Tartar Sauce

4.7
(1,087)

A simple tartar sauce for deep-fried seafood. Chill the sauce for at least an hour before serving for the best flavor. The sauce can be stored for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

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looking down at a bowl of tartar sauce, garnished with dill
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
6
Yield:
1 cup

This tartar sauce recipe is the perfect mate for all your favorite fried fish dishes.

What Is Tartar Sauce?

Tartar sauce is a mayonnaise-based sauce that is often served with fried seafood dishes. It has a rich, creamy texture and a refreshingly tangy flavor.

Tartar Sauce Ingredients

Make this easy tartar sauce recipe with just five ingredients:

· Mayonnaise: This homemade tartar sauce recipe starts with a cup of mayonnaise.
· Relish: Use a store-bought or homemade sweet pickle relish.
· Onion: A tablespoon of minced onion takes the flavor up a notch.
· Lemon juice: Lemon juice is optional, but the extra acidity lends a welcome bite.
· Seasonings: This tartar sauce is simply seasoned with salt and pepper.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

Simply combine all the ingredients in a bowl to make this wonderfully simple tartar sauce. Make sure you chill for at least an hour before serving so the flavors have time to meld.

You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below.

What to Serve With Tartar Sauce

Tartar sauce is usually served with fried seafood (but, of course, you can use it as a dipping sauce for just about anything you want). Here are a few mouthwatering ideas that will pair well with tartar sauce:

· Crunchy Fried Shrimp
· Deep-Fried Oysters
· Crispy Fried Fish

More inspiration: 10 Best Fish Fry Recipes

Can You Make Tartar Sauce Ahead of Time?

Yes! Since tartar sauce is stored in the fridge and actually tastes better if you allow the flavors to meld for a while, it makes a great make-ahead sauce.

How to Store Tartar Sauce

Store your leftover homemade tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Easy and delicious," according to bddavemci. "I added a sprinkle of dill which made it even more tasty."

"I think it's as good a basic tartar sauce recipe as you can get," says Norbert. "It's fast, easy, and far cheaper than inferior store-bought stuff. It's also easy to adjust for more or fewer servings."

"Better than anything you can buy in a bottle," raves one Allrecipes community member. "I have made this many times, and like other reviewers think that a few hours (at least) in the fridge changes the taste from good to great."

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 6 servings

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

  • 1 tablespoon minced onion

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (Optional)

  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    ingredients to make tartar sauce, gathered in bowls

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Mix mayonnaise, relish, and onion together in a small bowl.

    mayonnaise, relish, and onion combined in a bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Stir in lemon juice; season with salt and pepper.

    lemon juice being stirred into the bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

    tartar sauce covered and refrigerated.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Serve and enjoy!

    looking down at a bowl of tartar sauce, garnished with dill

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

1,567 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

268 Calories
29g Fat
3g Carbs
0g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 268
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 29g 37%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 14mg 5%
Sodium 229mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g 1%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 14mg 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.