Introducing the ultimate 4 Ingredient Tartar Sauce, a delightful and versatile addition to elevate your culinary creations. This delicious sauce, with its creamy texture and tangy undertones, serves as the perfect dipping sauce or creamy condiment to enhance the flavours of your favourite dishes. Crafted with very simple ingredients, our recipe combines the smooth richness of mayo, the refreshing essence of dill, the zesty kick of lemon, and the subtle tanginess of gherkins. Whether you’re seeking a compliment for succulent seafood, a zingy accompaniment to crispy fries, or a delectable spread for sandwiches, this homemade tartar sauce is sure to captivate your taste buds with its delightful simplicity and irresistible flavours.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost for you! Thank you!
But What Is Tartar Sauce?
Tartar sauce, a classic and beloved accompaniment to seafood dishes, is a creamy sauce that adds a delightful burst of flavour to a variety of culinary creations. While it is commonly found in shops, nothing quite compares to the homemade version, where you have complete control over the quality and freshness of the ingredients.
Originally hailing from France, tartar sauce, also known as tartare sauce, has become a staple in many cuisines around the world. Its distinct taste can be attributed to a harmonious blend of creamy mayonnaise, aromatic dill, tangy lemon juice, and the unique addition of gherkins or pickles. The combination of these elements gives tartar sauce its signature flavour—a perfect balance of creaminess, tanginess, and subtle herbaceous notes.
You may wonder why it is called “tartar” sauce. The name actually derives from the French word “tartare,” referring to a sauce typically served with raw or lightly cooked meat or fish. Over time, this sauce evolved, and the term “tartar sauce” was adopted to denote the creamy condiment that accompanies fried or breaded seafood. Its versatility, however, extends beyond seafood, making it a fantastic accompaniment to other dishes like crispy chicken tenders, grilled vegetables, or even as a sandwich spread.
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: regular or light mayo will work in this recipe. You may also choose to use vegan mayonnaise if you are catering for plant-based diets.
- Lemon: we like to use fresh lemons, although only fresh lemon juice is required for this tangy sauce. If you don’t have any lemons at home, you may replace them with concentrated lemon juice from a bottle, but make sure to reduce the amount by about half.
- Gherkins: also known as dill pickles in some parts of the world.
- Dill: use fresh dill, dried dill, or frozen dill – it all works! That’s the beauty of this easy tartar sauce recipe.
Variations and Extras
We promised you a 4-ingredient tartar sauce, and we intend to stick to it. But if you have some other ingredients at home, you can experiment by adding some of the following (after all, that’s the brilliance of making your own homemade tartar sauce):
- Add ½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard for a warming aftertaste.
- Replace the gherkins and lemon juice with a similar amount of dill pickle relish.
- To lighten up the sauce, consider replacing half of the mayonnaise with sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt.
- Replace half the gherkins with finely chopped capers for an extra tangy flavour (consider omitting the lemon juice in this case).
- Add some finely chopped fresh tarragon to your own tartar sauce if you like a touch of aniseedy flavour. You may also add some chive.
- If you are serving tartar sauce with strong-tasting dishes, you can introduce a bit of heat by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to this easy sauce.
- Take your tartar sauce to a whole new level by crafting a homemade mayonnaise!
Method
Start by chopping the gherkins very finely (if you like smooth tartar sauce, you may even blitz the gherkins in a food processor or mince them). If you are using fresh dill, chop it finely too. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise with gherkins, lemon juice and dill and mix well. Taste and season with black pepper and salt if required.
That’s it! Your quick tartar sauce is ready!
Watch How To Make It
Tips and Tricks For Good Tartar Sauce
There is quite a divide in the world on the subject of chunky vs smooth (guacamole is one of the best examples). Tartar sauce is no exception. Whilst we like it on a slightly chunkier side, some people like it completely smooth. In this case, make sure to mince the gherkins and dill to a smooth paste before mixing it with the lemon juice and mayo. Here are some other things to consider:
- Make your tartar sauce ahead of time. The flavours in this tasty condiment need time to develop and amalgamate, so, for best results, make sure to prepare your homemade sauce at least 30 minutes before serving and store it in the fridge.
- If you have extra vinegary and tangy gherkins, consider adding a small pinch of caster sugar to your sauce to balance the flavours better.
- If you have leftover sauce, mix it with a splash of water to loosen it and use it as a delicious salad dressing. It goes well with Tuna Nicoise or Caesar Salad.
Storing Leftover Tartar Sauce
If you made a large batch of homemade tartar sauce, don’t worry, it keeps very well. Your 4-ingredient tartar sauce, when stored in an airtight container (such as a mason jar), will maintain its freshness for a whole week. With the summer season in full swing, we find ourselves delightfully indulging in this homemade delight on a weekly basis, whipping up a fresh batch to savour its tantalizing flavours.
What To Serve Tartar Sauce With?
This 4-Ingredient Tartar Sauce, with its creamy and tangy profile, serves as the perfect complement to a wide range of dishes, particularly those featuring fish and seafood. This great sauce can elevate your favourite fish dishes to the next level, adding a burst of flavour that perfectly balances the richness of the seafood. Whether you’re indulging in crispy fish fillets, succulent fried catfish, delectable crab cakes, or flavorful fish cakes, a dollop of tartar sauce takes these creations to a whole new level of culinary delight.
Imagine drizzling this easy sauce over salmon cakes or serving it alongside crispy fish sticks for a delightful flavour combination that will have your taste buds dancing. It even makes a delightful dipping sauce for golden-brown french fries or a refreshing accompaniment to fish tacos, adding a zing that complements the flavours of the dish.
Salads also benefit from the addition of tartar sauce, as it provides a creamy and tangy element to the greens, making each bite a burst of freshness. For those who enjoy fish burgers, tartar sauce brings a burst of flavour that perfectly complements the savoury patty, taking it from ordinary to extraordinary. And let’s not forget about its role in the realm of fried food—whether you’re indulging in fried seafood platters or crispy fried chicken, tartar sauce adds a tangy touch that cuts through the richness, enhancing every bite.
Other Dip, Drizzle and Sauce Recipes
Dips. Sauces. Drizzles. Dressings. Nothing takes your homecooked meals to new heights like a delicious condiment. Why not try some of the following:
- Basil Pistou (French Pesto Recipe)
- Chipotle Yogurt Dip/ Dressing
- Coriander Mayo Dip
- Easy Cherry Sauce For Duck
Recipe Card
4 Ingredient Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- 70 g mayo
- 40 g gherkins very finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill or 1 teaspoon fresh dill finely chopped
Instructions
- Start by chopping the gherkins very finely (if you like smooth tartar sauce, you may even blitz the gherkins in a food processor or mince them).
- If you are using fresh dill, chop it finely too.
- In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise with gherkins, lemon juice and dill and mix well. Taste and season with black pepper and salt if required.
Leave a Reply