Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce

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This is a recipe that has been around since I was a girl. I believe my Mom discovered it in a magazine decades ago simply labeled “Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce”. We held onto this gem, with a cutout taped to a recipe card in our kitchen drawer for years. Its a classic tasting tartar sauce, perfect for any seafood dishes.

What you Need to Make Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce:

Ready to accompany a fish and chips dinner or maybe some crab cakes, this old fashioned tartar sauce will bring all the tangy goodness you expect. Simple to make, as long as you have a couple key ingredients like capers and dill pickles!

If you’re looking for another great (and easier) recipe, see my Easiest Tartar Sauce here!

Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce Ingredients

  • Real mayonnaise
  • Dijon mustard
  • Dill pickle juice
  • Lemon juice
  • Dried dill
  • Minced dill pickle
  • Minced capers

How to Make Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce

  1. Combine Ingredients:
    • In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced dill pickle, lemon juice, dill pickle juice, dried dill, and minced capers.
    • Stir the ingredients until well blended. Use a spatula, scraping the sides of the bowl and folding together.
    • Taste the tartar sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
    • You can add more lemon juice for extra zing or capers for a briny kick.
  2. Transfer and Store:
    • Transfer the tartar sauce to an airtight container like a glass jar or tupperware.
    • Chill the sauce in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to develop.
  3. Serve alongside your favorite seafood dishes for a classic burst of flavor. Enjoy!

Why You’ll Love Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce

  • It’s incredibly easy to make and offers a delightful balance of tangy, savory, and briny notes.
  • The addition of Dijon mustard and capers adds important depth to the flavor profile.
  • Whether you’re enjoying fried fish, shrimp or crab cakes, this tartar sauce is the perfect complement.
  • Recreate the taste of the good old days and elevate your seafood experience with this homemade gem.

Cooking Tips and Variations

Cooking Tips

  • For a creamier consistency, blend the ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  • Customize the tartar sauce by adding fresh herbs like chopped parsley, chives, or tarragon.
  • Adjust the tanginess by varying the amount of lemon juice or Dijon mustard to suit your taste.
  • Make a larger batch to have Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce on hand for multiple meals.
  • This sauce also goes well with non-seafood dishes like chicken tenders, sandwiches and as a dipping sauce for fries. Yum!
old fashioned tartar sauce recipe
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Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce

I believe my Mom discovered it in a magazine decades ago simply labeled "Old Fashioned Tartar Sauce"
Servings: 15
Course: Sauces
Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
  • 1 tablespoon dried dill
  • 1/3 cup minced dill pickle
  • 1 tablespoon minced capers

Instructions
 

Combine Ingredients:

  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl combine the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, minced dill pickle, lemon juice, dill pickle juice, dried dill, and minced capers.
  • Stir the ingredients until well blended. Use a spatula, scraping the sides of the bowl and folding together.
  • Taste the tartar sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
  • You can add more lemon juice for extra zing or capers for a briny kick.

Transfer and Store:

  • Transfer the tartar sauce to an airtight container like a glass jar or tupperware.
  • Chill the sauce in the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to develop.
  • Serve alongside your favorite seafood dishes for a classic burst of flavor. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 0.4gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 256mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.3gVitamin A: 38IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 0.2mg
Recipe Keywords: tartar sauce
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