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Home » Dips and Sauces » Homemade Tartar Sauce

Homemade Tartar Sauce

A photo of Vered DeLeeuw.
by Vered DeLeeuwUpdated Dec 16, 2024
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5 from 6 votes

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This wonderfully creamy and tangy homemade tartar sauce is ready in 15 minutes. It's easy to make, keeps well in the fridge, and can be paired with many seafood dishes.

Homemade tartar sauce is served in a glass jar.

I don't typically feel that seafood dishes "need" a sauce, but I make an exception for this one because it's so flavorful. It elevates many dishes, even ones that are already delicious. In addition to being delightfully flavorful, this homemade tartar sauce is incredibly easy to make. Since we eat a lot of seafood, I make it often. It keeps well in the fridge for several days.

Ingredients

The ingredients needed to make a homemade tartar sauce.

You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this sauce. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

  • Mayonnaise: I usually use avocado oil mayonnaise from Chosen Foods.
  • Mustard: I use Dijon mustard. This classic French mustard is creamier and less vinegary than yellow mustard. I highly recommend using it in this recipe.
  • Lemon juice: Just a teaspoon. It's best to use fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
  • To season: Salt, pepper, dried dill, and cayenne pepper. The cayenne adds a layer of flavor. It doesn't make the sauce spicy.
  • Diced dill pickles and capers: For the best texture, you want small dice, not a rough chop.

Variations

  • You can replace the mayonnaise with sour cream. It's excellent, although I prefer the richness and flavor of mayonnaise.
  • Greek yogurt also works in this recipe, though again, mayonnaise is better, and so is sour cream. You can omit the lemon if you use yogurt since it's naturally tangy.
  • For an extra kick, you can replace the capers or dill pickles with finely diced pickled jalapenos. My husband is a fan of this version.
  • You can also make it spicy with a teaspoon of hot sauce or ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.

Instructions

Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps for making this sauce:

Simply mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Start with the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and seasonings:

Mixing the tartar sauce ingredients in a bowl.

Then, mix in the pickles and capers:

Adding pickles and capers.

Cover the mixture and chill it for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Give the sauce one more stir before serving.

Homemade tartar sauce is served with a spoon.

Expert Tip

You can use the sauce immediately, but it's even better if you let it rest for 30 minutes before serving it. This allows the flavors to meld and improves the flavor.

Recipe FAQs

Can you make tartar sauce with Greek yogurt?

Yes, as long as you use whole-milk yogurt. This sauce should be rich and creamy. Low-fat yogurt will not work. Another option is to use sour cream. I tried it and liked it a lot - it's creamy and tasty.

Should I serve this sauce warm or cold?

This sauce is typically served at room temperature or chilled. This is one of its advantages - you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it until it's time to eat. Just remember to give it an extra stir before serving.

Should I use dill pickles or sweet pickles?

I prefer dill pickles. I like this sauce to be tangy and spiced, not sweet. But this is purely a matter of taste, so you should try both and see what you like best!

Serving Suggestions

This flavorful sauce is perfect for any seafood dish. I usually serve it with crab cakes, tuna cakes, or salmon patties. It also pairs beautifully with boiled shrimp instead of cocktail sauce. It's great with keto-fried fish!

But you don't have to limit yourself to seafood! This creamy, flavorful sauce goes well with roasted vegetables, chicken nuggets, and even skirt steak or other grilled meats. I sometimes use it to top hard-boiled eggs for a lazy version of deviled eggs.

As you can see, you have quite a few options for using this sauce. It never lasts long in our house.

Storing Leftovers

This sauce keeps quite well, though not as long as a commercial sauce. You can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. Stir it again before using it. I don't recommend freezing this sauce. It will separate and become grainy when thawed.

Homemade tartar sauce is served in a jar with a spoon.

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Recipe Card

Homemade tartar sauce is served in a glass jar.
5 from 6 votes
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Homemade Tartar Sauce

This wonderfully creamy and tangy homemade tartar sauce is ready in 15 minutes. It's perfect with seafood!
Prep Time15 minutes mins
Rest time30 minutes mins
Total Time45 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 193kcal
Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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Ingredients

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice - freshly squeezed
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon dried dill
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper - optional
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickles - finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon capers

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, use a small rubber spatula to mix the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill, and (if using) cayenne.
    Mixing the tartar sauce ingredients in a bowl.
  • Fold in the pickles and capers.
    Adding pickles and capers.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, then serve.
    Homemade tartar sauce is served with a spoon.

Notes

  • You can use the sauce immediately, but it's even better to let it rest for 30 minutes before serving it. This allows the flavors to meld and improves the flavor.
  • This sauce keeps well, though not as long as a commercial sauce. You can keep it in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 7 days. Stir it again before using it.
  • I don't recommend freezing this sauce. It will separate and become grainy after thawing.

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 2 tablespoons | Calories: 193 kcal | Carbohydrates: 1 g | Protein: 0.4 g | Fat: 21 g | Saturated Fat: 3 g | Trans Fat: 0.1 g | Sodium: 350 mg | Fiber: 0.2 g | Sugar: 0.3 g

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Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.

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Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.

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