Homemade Tartar Sauce

Homemade tartar sauce is a creamy and zesty condiment.  It is easy to make with six a six simple ingredients. Delicious slathered on my Baked Fish Sandwich.

Tartar sauce is a popular condiment served with shrimp, fried fish and other seafood.   It’s also good with fried chicken and burgers.  Just a matter of personal preference.  

Why is it called tartar sauce?

According to tasteofhome.com, tartar sauce originated in France as sauce tartare.  It was  named after the Tatars, who settled in the Ukraine and parts of Russia.

Homemade Tartar Sauce is gluten-free. For those who follow a gluten-free diet, be sure to check the label on each ingredient to verify that the mayonnaise you’re using is gluten-free.

DISCLAIMER:  This recipe is sponsored.  Sweet salad cubes used in this recipe were provided by  Mt. Olive.  Since I love their pickles, I asked for some complimentary jars and they agreed.  Yessss!

I’m a southern girl.  Born and raised in Georgia where we LOVE hot sauce and/or tartar sauce on our fried fish.  

Chunky tartar sauce adds a whole lotta flavor to fried Cornbread Fish.

A dash of ground black pepper and a splash of fresh lemon juice add amazing flavor.

I also love finely diced (or coarsely chopped) white onions in tartar sauce.  

How To Read & Follow A Recipe

Reading a recipe is an important life skill.  It starts with knowing how to read a recipe’s ingredients, follow the instructions, prep ingredients, and knowing what equipment to use. 

The following tips and strategies will help beginners or experienced cooks  create a delicious dish as intended in the recipe. 

Start with clean hands and organized kitchen.  Wash hands thoroughly.  Make sure kitchen and countertops are clean before making a recipe.

Create a relaxing environment.  Play favorite music while in the kitchen.  I love listening to classical or gospel music. 

Read the recipe.   Don’t just quickly skim it.  Thoroughly read from start to finish.  Visualize doing each step which will help you avoid missing a step.

If you see ingredient that you and your family don’t use for whatever reason, use a substitutions or omit the ingredient.

My recipes are packed with helpful tips like shortcuts and serving sizes which save time time and help with meal planning. 

Pay attention to the order in which ingredients are prepped.  For example, 1 cup of  chopped pecans is not the same as pecans, chopped (measure whole pecans and then chop).  

Know the assumptions.  For example, when my recipe calls for “sugar,” use granulated sugar.  If brown sugar is an ingredient, it will be written as such in the recipe.  

Figure out the timing. Check the listed “prep time” and “total time” to be sure you have enough time to complete the recipe.

Look for hints, such as the words “meanwhile” or “at the same time,” which indicate two or more steps can happen simultaneously.  

For example, my prep time doesn’t include bringing cold butter up to room temperature.  Be sure to include in your timetable.

Watch Recipe Videos.    If you’re a visual learner (like me), watch recipe videos.  Perfect for when you’re learning a new skill or just want to see how a recipe is made.    

Mise en place is a super time saver. This French cooking term translates as “putting in place.”   It means prepping/measuring ingredients and chopping food before you start cooking. It’s the perfect way to get organized and avoid missing an ingredient or missing a step in the instructions.

Organize your tools and kitchen equipment.  Mise en place isn’t just for ingredients.   Before starting, make sure you have parchment paper, aluminum foil, measuring cups, measuring spoons, the right pans, mixing bowls, and other equipment.

Make notes in your recipe. Note any special prep instructions and highlight cooking times.  Make note of ingredients omitted,  favorite substitutions and creative twists.   The notes will be very helpful the next time you make this recipe. 

Enjoy!