Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe

Do you like tartar sauce? If so, have you ever thought that you can make your own at home? It's way better than store-bought, more flavorful, and less expensive, and it is quick to finish with only a few simple ingredients.

You may have heard it before: Tartar sauce is just fancified mayonnaise. Basically, it's true, but the resulting & great-tasting creamy condiment with perfect consistency lies in details, or rather in the ingredients used.

This is an easy tartar sauce recipe in the Czech style. We Czechs are big fans of this homemade sauce, and I dare say we can make it absolutely fantastic. I will dive into the recipe in a moment, hang on, and you can see for yourself.

The Czech name for tartar sauce is tatarska omacka or short tatarka.

MY TIP: Czechs love tartar sauce with fried food, typically Czech classic Smažák fried cheese, fried Hermelín cheese or french fries.

➜ What is tartar sauce?

Tartar sauce is a classic cold dip that is served in many restaurants but can easily be made at home. Traditionally made from mayonnaise, it is infused with a lot of flavors, and the resulting sauce offers a sweet and tangy taste at the same time. 

The Czech-style tartar sauce includes basic ingredients like mayo, dill pickles, yellow mustard, onion, ground pepper, and salt.

➜ Ingredients

What are the basic ingredients in homemade tartar sauce? Let's take a look at the list:

• Mayonnaise; store-bought mayo of good quality or own mayonnaise
• Dill pickles; bottled gherkins in a sweet and sour infusion with the addition of sprigs of dill. This method of preparation is typical for cuisines in central Europe. In the USA, you can buy these sweet pickles in European deli stores, most often in Polish or German ones. Check out my recipe on how to make homemade dill pickles!
• Pickle juice; one to two tablespoons is enough. The more juice, the thinner the tartar sauce will be. Instead of pickle liquid, use a little fresh lemon juice.
• Onions; peeled and finely chopped
• Mustard; either yellow mustard or Dijon mustard for a sharper taste
• Salt and pepper; for seasoning

✅ You’ll find the exact amount of ingredients below in the recipe card, which you can also print out.

➜ How to make the best tartar sauce

STEP 1: Peel and finely chop the onion. Grate the pickle on a hand grater (small holes).

STEP 2: Put the onion and grated pickle in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients: pickle juice, mayonnaise, and mustard. Season with salt and pepper.

STEP 3: Mix everything until combined. Leave the tartar sauce to sit in the fridge for a few minutes.

STEP 4: Taste and add a little more salt to your liking if necessary. Stir once more and serve.

➜ Serving suggestions

Serve cold with fish fillets, fried fish sticks or fish fingers, crab cakes, and other seafood dishes, roasted veggies. 

Put a dollop of tartar directly on the plate with the meal or serve it separately in a small bowl.

➜ How long will homemade tartar sauce last?

Wondering how to store homemade tartar sauce? Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated. It should remain good for a couple of days but at least for one week.

➜ Useful tips and tricks

• Other ways to spice up the tartar sauce is to add chopped capers, anchovies, a little grated garlic, or finely chopped green herbs such as chives or fresh dill.
• Add a spoonful of full-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream to lighten the dip and save some calories.
• This can be considered an easy recipe for a versatile sauce. It goes best not only with hot fried dishes but also with sandwiches or cold roast beef cuts.

More easy homemade sauces & condiments:

• Homemade tomato ketchup
• Egg salad with yogurt
• Garlic cheese spread