Tartar sauce is a necessary accompaniment for crispy fried fish, and our homemade version elevates any seafood dish. Whether you’re enjoying pan fried perch, baked cod, or layering it on a toasty bun for delightful beer-battered cod sandwiches, this creamy tartar sauce is the perfect complement. Prepared with fresh, homemade mayonnaise and traditional tartar ingredients, making it from scratch guarantees top-notch quality while avoiding food stabilizers and preservatives.
The ingredients in this recipe are staples that most people either have on hand or can easily grab during their next grocery trip. They are budget-friendly, making homemade tartar sauce not only cost-effective but also incredibly fresh and flavorful.
Tartar Sauce Ingredients
Mayonnaise: Homemade mayonnaise is so simple to make and delivers a delicious flavor that’s worth every minute. You can prepare it ahead of time—up to a week in advance—or right before making your tartar sauce.
Sea Salt: Personally, sea salt is my preferred salt to use because of its natural qualities. Sea salt contains trace minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
Black Pepper: Black pepper not only adds a bold seasoning but also complexity to the tartar sauce.
Dijon Mustard: Another flavor enhancing addition is the Dijon mustard. Its bold, tangy flavor offsets the flavor of pure mayonnaise and enhances the flavor with a subtle sharpness.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is a key ingredient in tartar sauce because it enhances the flavor and balances the richness of the mayonnaise. Its bright acidity cuts through the creamy texture, adding a refreshing tang that complements seafood perfectly. The citrus notes also help bring out the flavors of the pickles. Beyond taste, lemon juice plays a functional role in tartar sauce. It helps maintain the sauce’s consistency, preventing it from becoming too thick.
Dill Pickle: Dill pickles are a key ingredient in tartar sauce because they add a tangy, slightly sour flavor that balances the richness of the mayonnaise. They also add a crunchy texture for a pleasant contrast to the creamy base, making the sauce more dynamic. The dill enhance the overall taste, complementing seafood dishes beautifully.
Yellow Onion: Another ingredient to intensify the crunch in tartar sauce is yellow onion. It enhances the flavor, texture, as well as the depth. The mild sweetness and a subtle sharpness of yellow onions balances the creamy richness of the mayonnaise. They complement the tangy elements of the pickles and lemon juice.
Preparation, Servings and Storage
Tartar sauce is simple to prepare and only takes about 5 minutes to gather the ingredients and mix it up. One batch can yield up to 8 servings, but the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if needed for a larger crowd or if you intend on using it for a few recipes during the week. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to one week. Enjoy this delightful sauce that promises to elevate your seafood dishes to a whole new level!
Tartar Sauce
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Lemon juice
- 3 tbsp Dill pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup Yellow onion, finely diced
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl, combine:1 cup Mayonnaise1 cup Mayonnaise1/2 tsp Black pepper2 tsp Dijon mustard2 tsp Lemon juice3 tbsp Dill pickles, chopped1/4 cup Yellow onion, finely diced
- Stir the ingredients and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition
