A simple tartar sauce recipe for deep fried seafood. With just a few ingredients you can make your own that is better than anything you’d buy!
Have you ever bought a condiment at the grocery store and it just wasn’t quite what you wanted? Too sweet, too salty, too bland. Or maybe, you realize you forgot to pick it up at the grocery store (or the grocery store was out).
Yeah, we’ve all been there. And that is why I’ve started making several of my own condiments.
When you start experimenting more with cooking you begin to realize that many of the things that you buy pre-made are actually really easy to make on your own.
Honey mustard? Excellent and easy to make at home. Aioli? Easy to make and change up flavors to suit your tastes! Tartar sauce is another one of those things that once you start making at home, you’ll never want to buy it again.
One would think that after working 6 years in a seafood restaurant where they served all you can eat fish and chips on Wednesdays that I would want to stay as far away as possible from tartar.
But despite the fact that I ate and on a few occasions, wore, my fair share of this delicious seafood dip, I still believe that no fried fish dinner is complete without it.
And neither do my kiddos.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
When it comes to making your own condiments, you’d be surprised at how many of the ingredients are actually staples in your kitchen. Making homemade BBQ? It’s mostly ketchup, brown sugar and a few seasonings. Homemade cocktail sauce? Ketchup, Worcestershire and garlic salt.
This Tartar Recipe is no different. Most of the ingredients you will already have on hand. To make your own you will need:
Mayonnaise: This is where the creaminess comes from.
Yellow Onion: You’ll want to make sure that it is minced fine. Chunky onions can quickly overpower the dip.
Sweet Pickle Relish: I love the hint of sweetness that it gives to the dip.
Dill Pickles: In contrast to the sweet pickle relish, dill pickles add a nice crunch to the dip as well as a bit of tang from the dill.
Parsley: Just for a bit of freshness.
Dijon Mustard:
Capers: These are my secret must have ingredient for tartar sauce. Their brininess makes the perfect addition.
If there is one ingredient that you need that might not be in your pantry it’s probably the capers.
What are capers?
Personally, I always have capers on hand. Capers are actually the bud of a flower and their briny, saltiness is a favorite around here. I use them in bruschetta, chicken piccata, artichoke tapenade and this recipe.
There are a few different sizes of capers. For this recipe, you’ll want non-peril capers which are the smallest. I find that they work the best for most recipes.
How long will homemade tartar sauce keep?
It should last a couple of days in your refrigerator.
What do you dip in tartar sauce?
Obviously, fried cod is a favorite around here. As are french fries. It also makes a great topping for fish sandwiches
Other Homemade Condiment Recipes:
Note: This post was originally written in 2009. Updated in 2020.
Servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon capers (drained)
- 1 tablespoon minced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons minced dill pickle
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a bowl. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Serve.
Oooohhhh!! I am LOVING the idea of adding kalamata olives. Totally going to try that next time!
I made this tartar sauce recipe to go with the crispy fried cod…. another amazing keeper! My only change was adding kalamata olives because I didn’t have capers on hand, it tasted fantastic with the fish! Capers have been put on the list so I have them on hand the next time I make fried cod. Thanks!
[…] and allow the succulent flavor of the flounder to shine through. Serve your delicious dinner with tartar sauce, lemon wedges and a glass of white […]
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
Sorry Dann, hot sauce does NOT belong in a tartar sauce!
Great recipe. Thanks !
Also sounds fab! I’ll have to try it some time!
You lost me with the mayonnaise base, pickle relish and mustard.
My recipe: Half mayo and sour cream, capers, fresh lime juice, Crystal Brand® hot sauce and fresh-cracked black pepper.
Give it a try.
I too followed this recipe by adding a fresh lemon juice in place of the mustard. I fried up some Cod to go with this tarter sauce. It turned out wonderful. Many thanks for the recipe.
The capers absolutely make it! You’ve GOT to try it!
I find it so interesting that you include capers in this recipe. Who knew! I can’t wait to try it!
Love that idea!
We used fresh dill and snipped it into the mix. Delicious.
Great tarter sauce. I didn’t think I would like that much sweet relish in it. But it was perfect.
Thanks Vicki! Unfortunately, I don’t have experience canning so I am not sure and cannot recommend it with this recipe
This recipe sounds amazing! I can’t wait to make it. Is it able to be canned?
this is pretty much how I make mine, Except for the mustard. I use lemon juice instead for tang.
I do like mustard though so I might try that next time. otherwise I use all the other ingredients and I do believe you have to have capers for great tartar sauce.
Love the idea of adding extra dill! So happy you enjoy this!
Hellman’s tarter sauce has always been my benchmark for tartar sauce…until now! Love this sauce! Only change I made was to leave out the parsley and substitute some dried dill weed. Awesome!
Because it’s good? The sweet n’ salty combo totally works. If it’s not for you feel free to leave one out!
Why in the world would you mix SWEET PICKLE RELISH with DILL PICKLES & capers?? You either use one or the other!!
Loving your substitutions! Glad you liked it :)
I made it with fresh still instead of parsley, and substituted veganaise for mayo, for a vegan version. I didn’t have any dill pickles, so I added some of the caper juice. I also added a dash of salt. Delish! Your recipe was super simple and tasty!
That’s great to know! I’ll have to try that next time, I love dill. :)
A little dill weed would be great in this tartar sauce. It just kicked it up a little bit more..
Sounds spectacular! Simple and easy to make yet super delicious, so excited to make this!
I never buy it in the store anymore! This is the best!
I always make this at home because it’s way tastier than the jarred one!
Homemade tartar sauce is so much better than store-bought! Yum!
My boys are obsessed with fish sticks and I’ve always gotten store bought sauce. I didn’t realize it was so easy to make your own, thanks!
Homemade sauces always offer the best flavor! Plus, super easy to make.
I love this! I make fish dinners at home all the time, but I didn’t realize tartar sauce is so easy to make from scratch! DOING THIS! :D
Ahhh so happy I found this! I was making a fish sandwich and needed a quick homemade tartar sauce to put on top – soooo good.
I love the addition of cream style horseradish! I bet it added a nice kick!
I didn’t have any onion, so I used dry. I also added about a teaspoon of cream style horseradish. Very good.
Somehow I knew these were ingredients, but I always need the proportions. It’s delish!
This is really awesome! Looks and sounds so easy to make!
Looks great. I am happy to actually be able to see and taste the herbs…usually is just pickle mayo.
Looks fantastic! Love how easy to make this recipe, adding to my list of must makes!
I have never found a jarred sauce that I love. Can’t wait to make a homemade version!
I have so many things I want to try this with!!
I’m going to have to give this a try!
I LOVE that! It sounds perfect for wings, chips, fries, and pretty much anything that can be slathered with sauce. Om nom nom.
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I always add some pickle juice into my tartar sauce, it adds a nice tangy flavor.
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Homemade Tartar sauce is the best – yours looks delicious!
I do love to indulge in tartar sauce with fried fish :-) Thanks for the recipe – I’m making my own next time!
Who knew it was so easy? I’m never buying the store stuff again!
It sounds great with the capers in the recipe, it would taste delicious!
We make our own but I’ve never added capers. I’ll have to try that next time.
We always just mixed mayo and relish together for it. I guess I could try this, too, since it will be definitely a lot different. I’m not a fan of capers, though.
yumm!! I love tartar sauce too, I can’t believe how simple and easy it is make!