Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (2024)

By: Author Julia Jordan

Posted on - Last updated:

Jump to Recipe

In this post I am sharing the Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce recipe.

Hey Y’all! Fish Fridays just got a whole lot better. Why? Because I’m sharing how to make the best tartar sauce ever at home. You may never buy the bottled stuff again.

A homemade tartar sauce is rich, tangy and so fresh. It is the perfect condiment for seafood meals or as a spread on a classic fried fish filet sandwich.

Recipes for tartar sauce can be found in cookbooks from the 1800’s but the sauce itself has been around a bit longer. Who knew? I didn’t but we all do now.

What’s Tartar Sauce Made Of?

Tartar sauce is a mayonnaise based condiment with chopped capers, chopped dill pickle relish, a bit of minced onion, Dijon mustard, some lemon juice, a dash of hot sauce and a few seasonings.

I love that you can make a small batch that you’re likely to use up in a month or so rather than the bottled stuff that seems to sit on the shelf forever and eventually expire.

See More Seafood Recipes at Julia’s Simply Southern

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (1)

How Long Does Homemade Tartar Sauce Last?

If properly stored and refrigerated, your homemade tartar sauce will last several months (up to six) and keep its integrity and flavor. We’ve never had a jar last more than a month before it is all used up….a benefit of making a small batch.

Many of you may be observing Lent this time of year so this sauce will become a staple.

Tartar Sauce with Capers and Dill

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (2)

How Do You Make Tartar Sauce?

Preparing your homemade tartar sauce is very easy. A tiny bit of chopping to make sure the dill pickle cubes and capers are minced is the extent of hard work and then you just have to mix the ingredients together.

Although you are using dill pickle relish, you still want to chop through it to mince up so that it incorporates well into your sauce recipe. That ensures that all of the flavors are found in each tasty bite of tartar sauce.

Southern Tartar Sauce

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (3)

I believe it has always been fairly obvious to most of us that tartar sauce has pickles in it. The real star of the show in this recipe is the capers. There aren’t a lot of capers but they are what really makes a true bona fide traditional tartar sauce recipe.

I remember my attempt at making tartar sauce when I was a lot younger and didn’t know capers should be included. Tartar sauce is just not the same without them. It’s a must in this recipe.

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (4)

So the next time you need a sauce for your Friday night seafood platter or those tasty fish sandwiches, make yourself a fresh batch of tartar sauce.

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe

Let’s make this Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe!

Yield: about 1/ 2 a cup

Tangy and delicious homemade tartar sauce, the perfect condiment for seafood

Prep Time10 minutes

Total Time10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 c Mayonnaise (I use Dukes)
  • 1 tsp Dried Minced Onion
  • 1.5 tsp Lemon Juice
  • 1.5 tbs Dill Relish
  • 1 tsp Capers, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp Dijon Mustard (I use Grey Poupon)
  • 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Hot Sauce
  • Dash of Old Bay Seasoning
  • Dash of Cayenne (optional)

Instructions

  1. Begin by adding the mayonnaise to a small mixing bowl.
  2. To the side of the mayonnaise, add the minced onion.
  3. Add the lemon juice to the same area as the minced onion. This will allow them to soak in some of the moisture.
  4. Mince the dill relish and capers then add to the mixing bowl.
  5. Next, add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
  6. Transfer the tartar sauce to a covered container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Notes

  • Use mayonnaise, NOT Miracle Whip, when making tartar sauce
  • Properly stored tartar sauce may be refrigerated up to six months
  • Use tartar sauce as a condiment for seafood or as a sandwich spread

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1 tablespoon

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 95Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 142mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

Thank you for stopping by! I hope you’ll share this recipe with a friend.

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (7)

You might also enjoy this recipe for Southern Style Salmon Patties.

Check out what’s been cooking with our Latest Posts

  • Old Fashioned Amish Overnight Coleslaw Recipe
  • The Best Easter Breakfast or Brunch Recipes for Two
  • Classic Hamburger Steak Recipe with Country Pepper Gravy
  • Easy Southern Style Flat Italian Green Beans Recipe
  • Down Home Southern Large Lima Butter Beans Recipe

Please sign up for our free newsletter so that you never miss a recipe. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe

Author of Julia's Simply Southern

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (8)

About Julia

Hey Y'all! I'm Julia, the cook and writer behind the recipes here at Julia's Simply Southern. I began my website so that I could share easy to follow recipes that anyone can use to put a home cooked meal on the dinner table. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Follow me on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional tartar sauce made of? ›

Wondering what's in tartar sauce? It's typically made with mayonnaise, chopped pickles or relish, lemon juice, and herbs (like tarragon and dill). There are also a handful of optional ingredients you can add that take the tartar sauce's flavor to the next level. For example, this recipe includes yellow mustard.

Why do you put cream of tartar in tartar sauce? ›

In reality, the two have nothing to do with one another. Cream of tartar is a powdery baking ingredient that you'd find in sweets like cookies or meringues. Tartar sauce, on the other hand, is super savory, rich, and tangy.

How long will homemade tartar sauce keep? ›

Tartar sauce should be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for about a week. Obviously, if it starts to smell funky in the fridge or the flavor is off before the week is up, you should dump it. Similar to other mayonnaise-based condiments, tartar sauce does not freeze well because the emulsion can break.

What is Cajun tartar sauce made of? ›

Cajun Tartar Sauce:

In a bowl stir tegether the mayonnaise, sweet picle, green onion, parsley, lemon juice and hot pepper sauce. Served with fried fish and seafood. Makes 1 1/4 cup of sauce.

What is a good substitute for tartar sauce? ›

Instead of tartar sauce, use a garlicky aioli with or without a little dill or chopped pickle. Another good sauce option that goes well with seafood is a tomato-based co*cktail sauce. Hummus, which is also slightly acidic with lemon juice, can also make a nice dip for seafood.

What is tartar sauce in England? ›

Tartar sauce is based on either mayonnaise or aioli, with certain other ingredients added. In the UK, recipes typically add to the base capers, gherkins, lemon juice, and dill. US recipes may include chopped dill pickles, onions (or chives), and fresh parsley.

How do you thicken tartar sauce? ›

Add Sour Cream For A Thicker, Tangier Tartar Sauce

Its presence ensures a velvety mouthfeel and a well-balanced tanginess that complements the mayonnaise, pickles, capers, and other ingredients.

Why does tartar sauce taste so good? ›

It typically has a creamy and tangy profile with ingredients like mayonnaise, pickles, capers, onions, and lemon juice. These elements add a combination of creaminess, acidity, and a hint of sweetness that complements the mild and delicate flavor of fish.

What is McDonald's tartar sauce made of? ›

Tartar Sauce

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Pickle Relish (diced Pickles, Vinegar, Salt, Capers, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate [preservative], Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives, Polysorbate 80), Egg Yolks, Water, Onions, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Spice, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Parsley.

What happens if you add too much cream of tartar? ›

Keep in mind that more cream of tartar doesn't necessarily mean a better, more stable result. “Too much cream of tartar will impart a metallic, tin-like taste,” Molly warns.

What is a substitute for 1 teaspoon of cream of tartar? ›

This substitution is ideal because it can be used in any recipe without modifying the taste or texture of the final product. You can use baking powder to replace cream of tartar in recipes that also contain baking soda. Substitute 1.5 teaspoons (6 grams) of baking powder for 1 teaspoon (3.5 grams) of cream of tartar.

How to tell if tartar sauce is bad? ›

Opened bottles of tartar sauce should remain good for up to six months as long as they're kept in the refrigerator. If you suspect your tartar sauce is going bad, check the bottle for an expiration date. If it has a strange odor or appears to have lost its texture, it's probably time for a new bottle.

What are the ingredients of tartar sauce? ›

In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, chopped dill pickles, capers, Dijon mustard, shallots, scallions, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Store: To store tartar sauce, keep it covered and chilled in the refrigerator.

Is it safe to eat tartar sauce after expiration date? ›

From garlic aioli to remoulade and tartar sauces, there are all kinds of dipping sauces and spreads that contain mayo, and Berger says it's best practice to toss them when they're expired. “Another general rule of thumb is if a dip or condiment tastes different from when you first open it, throw it out,” she says.

What are the ingredients in Dukes tartar sauce? ›

Made with your favorite tangy mayonnaise and crunchy pickles, olives, and capers, Duke's Tartar Sauce is the ideal seafood condiment. Cold Weather Warning: If you are shipping to a location that is experiencing cold weather, please consider delaying your order until temps are warmer.

What are the ingredients in Heinz tartar sauce? ›

Water, Soybean Oil, Vinegar, Sugar, Cucumbers, Modified Corn Starch, Liquid Yolk (egg), Salt, Dried Onion, Mustard Flour, Spices, Natural And Artificial Flavour, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Disodium Edta, Calcium Chloride, Dried Garlic, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil.

Does tartar sauce contain mayo? ›

Tartar sauce (French: sauce tartare; spelled tartare sauce in the UK, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries) is a condiment made of mayonnaise, chopped pickles and relish, caper, and herbs such as tarragon and dill.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 6028

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.