Easy, Classic Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe
Make fresh tartar sauce at home in minutes. This creamy, tangy condiment is perfect for fried fish, crab cakes, or as a zesty dipping sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 0 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: About 1.25 cups
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup good quality mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles or sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped capers
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Pinch of salt (optional)
Instructions
- Gather all your ingredients. You want everything ready to mix quickly for the best flavor.
- In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, capers, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard.
- Stir the ingredients together until they are fully incorporated and the sauce is creamy.
- Add the black pepper and salt, if you are using it, and mix again.
- Taste the sauce. If you want it tangier, add a few more drops of lemon juice.
- Cover the bowl and chill the homemade tartar sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together properly.
Notes
- For a lower-carb option, use finely chopped dill pickles instead of sweet relish.
- If you want a richer flavor, substitute 1/4 cup of the mayonnaise with sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
- Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh dill or parsley for extra freshness.
- This sauce tastes best after chilling for at least 30 minutes, but you can serve it immediately if you are in a hurry.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tbsp
- Calories: 135
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2.5
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 1
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 10