While I understand the need for convenience, Homemade Tartar Sauce is so easy to make that I don't quite understand why anyone would buy it commercially prepared! Especially when homemade is quick, easy, and certainly tasty!

Green pottery bowl of tartar sauce with a chive garnish

What is tartar sauce and how is it made?

The sauce gets its name "tartar" because Steak Tartare (the raw ground beef dish) was originally served with a similar sauce. And anything that was served with that sauce was known as à la tartare.

My homemade version of Tartar Sauce is a simple mix with a base of mayonnaise which is mixed with less than ten other ingredients!

Shallots make everything better, right? Be sure to chop them rather small so that you don't chomp down on a large piece!

Chives are not only delicious, but they give a real kick of color in the sauce. Don't skip them!

So much flavor comes from the pickles and capers and I feel strongly that you shouldn't skip them in this recipe! However, there are versions that have only one or the other in the recipe so you do you.

Mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sour cream, lemon juice, shallot, Worcestershire sauce, fresh chives, capers, and pickles. That's the simple list of ingredients. (Check out my recipe for homemade Worcestershire Sauce!)

All of the ingredients for the tartar sauce measured out

How to serve Homemade Tartar Sauce

Tartar Sauce usually accompanies seafood like fish and chips, fish sandwiches, and really all types of fried fish. However, I love it on fish tacos, in tuna salad, to dress Cole Slaw, and any grilled, baked, or seared fish. Some people even put it on hamburgers! As far as burgers go, I would put it on a salmon burger in a heartbeat!

Recipe

Homemade Tartar Sauce

Tammy Circeo

A bit of saucy stuff like mayonnaise and sour cream paired with some pickly stuff and lemon juice makes a really great authentic tartar sauce.

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Prep Time 10

Course Condiments

Cuisine American

Servings 1 cups

Ingredients

¾ cups mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 shallot 2-3 tablespoons, chopped small
1 Tablespoon capers
3 Tablespoons dill pickles or cornichons (small French pickles), chopped small
1 Tablespoon fresh chives sliced small
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Instructions

Mix all of the ingredients prepared as directed in the ingredient list. Couldn't be more simple!
Serve with fried fish, fish tacos, fish sandwiches ... any and all things fish!

Notes

The sour cream is added to counterbalance the heaviness of the mayonnaise, as does the lemon juice.

If you want a different flavor profile, use a different herb. Try chervil, tarragon, or parsley. You can also use dill, but I feel that with the addition of the pickles and capers, dill is too repetitive.

Keyword tartar sauce