This recipe for tartar sauce is better than store-bought and super easy to make! Combine mayo with sweet green relish, lemon juice and a little mustard and you've got a delicious sauce to go with fish and chips or any other favourite seafood.
Anyone who knows me is well aware of my obsession with fish and seafood. Tartar sauce is a must-have condiment when having fish and chips or breaded shrimp!
After having this quick and easy tartar sauce, you'll ask yourself why you've been buying the pre-made kind for so long!
It's so easy to make, and I find that it tastes even better than the store bought tartar sauce, plus, you can make however much you need and not worry about waste.
I hope you enjoy this recipe! ❤️ If you give it a try, please let me know how it turned out for you in the comments section at the bottom of the page or share a pic of your om noms on Instagram and tag @dishesanddustbunnies! ❤️
What does tartar sauce taste like?
Tartar sauce has a tangy and slightly sour taste that is also a little sweet, and is great used as a condiment for seafood dishes.
Why is it called tartar sauce?
The name of this sauce is derived from the French word “tartre” which means “gravel” or “stone.” It is said that this sauce was created by fishermen who used it as a condiment to mask the taste of fish that had been stored in ice.
Be sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full ingredients & instructions!
What is tartar sauce usually made of?
Tartar sauce ingredients usually consist of mayonnaise, lemon juice, sweet green relish (or chopped dill pickles), and a little yellow mustard.
How to make homemade tartar sauce
Homemade tartar sauce is so simple to make. All you have to do is combine mayonnaise with some sweet green relish (or chopped dill pickles), lemon juice and a little mustard.
Besides being super simple to make, one of the other great things about this recipe is that you can really customize it according to your tastes and preferences. For example, rather than using a store-bought mayo as a base, you could substitute it with Greek yogurt – and it will still taste awesome and be a little lighter!
For the flavours to fully develop, it's a good idea to allow the sauce to rest in the fridge for a while.
How to make tartar sauce without lemon juice:
Follow the recipe according to the instructions, but substitute the lemon juice for vinegar.
How long does Tartar sauce usually keep?
When kept in an airtight container in the fridge, it should be good for about 2 weeks.
Can you freeze tartar sauce?
As its base is made with mayonnaise, I would not recommend freezing tartar sauce. Freezing will affect its texture and quality when thawed. Making tartar sauce is super easy so I recommend making it fresh as needed.
What goes well with Tartar Sauce?
Ways to use Tartar sauce:
Here are some yummy ideas and suggestions on how to use tartar sauce:
- Crispy Beer Battered Fish (With or Without the Beer!)
- on a toasted bun, to make a fish sandwich
- Clam Fritters
- Crab Cakes
- Easy Oven Baked Tilapia Fillets
Quick & Easy Tartar Sauce
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tbsp sweet green relish
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients thoroughly using a whisk.
- You can use this right away and it will taste great, or you can let it chill in the fridge for a while so the flavors deepen.
- Serve along with fish and chips (try my homemade battered fish recipe here!) or any of your other favorite seafood dishes!
Notes
Instead of sweet relish, you could also use dill or tangy relish. Sometimes I like to finely chop up a couple of dill pickles and use those instead of relish. 😋
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce/Condiment
Keywords: fish and chips
