Southern Tartar Sauce (2024)

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Get ready to elevate your seafood game with our mouthwatering Southern tartar sauce recipe. Bursting with tangy flavors and a hint of sweetness, this homemade sauce is the perfect accompaniment to fried fish, shrimp, or crab cakes.

Are you tired of lackluster tartar sauces that leave your seafood dishes feeling uninspired? Say goodbye to store-bought blandness and dive into the world of homemade goodness with our easy, yet mouthwatering Southern Tartar Sauce recipe. Packed with the zesty crunch of dill pickles, the freshness of herbs, and just the right amount of kick, this recipe is guaranteed to elevate your favorite seafood meals, from crispy fish sandwiches to succulent crab cakes.

Forget about those store-bought imposters—this homemade tartar sauce is the only reason you’ll ever need to reach for a dipping sauce again. And with optional ingredients to customize to your taste preferences, you can create a tartar sauce that’s truly your own. So grab a bowl, gather your ingredients, and get ready to experience the ultimate tartar sauce taste sensation.

Why I Love This Southern Tartar Sauce Recipe

• The zesty crunch of dill pickles adds a burst of flavor that perfectly complements any seafood dish.
• Using fresh dill brings a vibrant, herbaceous note to the tartar sauce, enhancing its freshness and aroma. The addition of fresh lemon juice adds a bright, citrusy tang that balances the richness of the mayonnaise base.
• Crafting your own tartar sauce allows you to control the ingredients.
• It’s incredibly easy to make, requiring only a few simple ingredients and a medium bowl to mix them together.
• Its perfect consistency coats each bite of seafood with creamy goodness, ensuring a satisfying flavor experience every time.
• Thanks to its homemade goodness, this tartar sauce beats any store-bought sauce, making it the best tartar sauce you’ll ever taste.

Ingredients

• mayonnaise or miracle whip
• chopped dill pickle or dill pickle relish
• fresh lemon juice or lime juice
• paprika
• Worcestershire sauce
• Dijon mustard
• salt and black pepper to taste
• chopped fresh dill weed or parsley optional

Step by step

1. Combine the mayonnaise, pickles, lemon juice, paprika, dill, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard in a small bowl and stir until blended.
2. Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors blend.

Tips for Best Results

• Use fresh ingredients: Opt for fresh dill and fresh herbs to enhance the flavor profile of your tartar sauce.
• Balance flavors: Adjust the amount of black pepper and Worcestershire sauce to achieve the best flavor for your taste buds.
• Customize to perfection: Experiment with different ingredients such as Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, or hot sauce to make the tartar sauce your own.
• Freshness is key: Squeeze fresh lemon juice just before mixing to preserve its zesty flavor and prevent the sauce from becoming too acidic.
• Chill before serving: Allow the tartar sauce to chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
• Swap optional ingredients like dill relish for sweet relish to cater to different taste preferences.

Serving suggestions

Serve it alongside your favorite seafood dishes or use it as a delicious spread for salmon burgers—the serving suggestions are endless. Some of our favorite meals to serve with tartar sauce are fried catfish, salmon patties, crab cakes, fish sticks, fish and chips, or fried shrimp but you can use this tasty sauce with just about anything!

Storage

Store your homemade tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

If you try this recipe please comment and rate it below, I love hearing from you!

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