Ina Garten’s Fresh Tartar Sauce Recipe to Enjoy

Tangy and creamy, this Ina Garten tartar sauce recipe delivers a zesty punch that elevates any seafood dish.

Crafted with precision and simplicity, her sauce combines classic ingredients in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

Rich mayonnaise mingles with briny pickles and bright herbs, creating a condiment that sings with flavor.

The sharp notes of capers add unexpected depth to every spoonful.

Garten’s approach turns a simple sauce into a restaurant-worthy accompaniment that will make you look like a culinary pro.

Each dollop promises to upgrade your fish, shrimp, or crab cakes from ordinary to extraordinary.

Grab your whisk and get ready to transform your next meal with this irresistible sauce.

What to Use to Mix Ina Garten Tartar Sauce

• Food Processor or Mini Chopper: Essential for quickly and evenly chopping ingredients.
• Steel Blade: Comes with the food processor to chop pickles and mix ingredients smoothly.
• Measuring Cups: Helps measure ingredients accurately for consistent flavor.
• Measuring Spoons: Ensures precise amounts of seasonings and condiments.
• Spatula: Useful for scraping down sides of the processor and transferring sauce.
• Serving Bowl: Provides a clean container to store or serve the tartar sauce.

Instructions for Homemade Ina Garten Tartar Sauce

• Pickle Preparation

Grab fresh, crisp pickles and gather your kitchen tools for a zesty sauce adventure.

• Blending Magic

Drop the pickles and other ingredients into a food processor or mini chopper, creating a smooth and tangy mixture with quick, short pulses. Stop before the sauce becomes too smooth – you want tiny pickle bits that add texture and character to your sauce.

Twist the Flavor in Ina’s Tartar Sauce

• Chop pickles by hand for a chunkier sauce with more visible pickle pieces if you prefer texture over a smooth blend.
• Add a splash of white wine vinegar or fresh dill for an extra tangy and herbaceous kick that brightens the entire sauce.
• Prepare the tartar sauce up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container, allowing flavors to meld and intensify in the refrigerator.
• Mix in a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few drops of hot sauce for those who enjoy a subtle heat and more complex flavor profile.
• Replace some mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a slightly healthier version that still maintains a creamy and delicious consistency.

Great Pairings for Ina Garten’s Tartar Sauce

• Dip into Seafood Delights: Pair this creamy tartar sauce with crispy fish and chips, golden-fried shrimp, or crunchy crab cakes for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
• Spread on Sandwiches: Elevate your classic fish sandwich or po' boy by slathering this tangy sauce on both sides of fresh bread for an extra flavor kick.
• Create Veggie Dipping Station: Use the tartar sauce as a zesty dip for roasted or raw vegetables like crisp cucumber slices, crunchy bell peppers, and tender asparagus spears.
• Jazz Up Salad Dressing: Thin the tartar sauce with a splash of lemon juice or white wine vinegar to create a unique, creamy salad dressing that adds excitement to your greens.

Keep Tartar Sauce Fresh in the Fridge

• Store Smartly: Transfer tartar sauce to an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid for maximum freshness.
• Refrigerate Immediately: Keep the sauce chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days to maintain its crisp, tangy flavor profile.
• Check Quality Regularly: Inspect the sauce for any signs of separation, odd smell, or discoloration before each use to ensure optimal taste and safety.
• Prep Ahead Strategy: Make the tartar sauce a day before serving to allow flavors to meld and intensify, creating a more delicious condiment for your seafood dishes.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Calories: 130 kcal

Servings: 8

All the Ingredients for Ina Garten Tartar Sauce

• Mayonnaise: Creamy foundation that provides silky smooth texture and rich flavor profile for the sauce.
• Sour Cream: Adds tangy brightness and light consistency to balance the mayonnaise's richness.

• Cornichons, Dill Pickles: Deliver delightful zingy crunch and briny complexity to elevate the sauce's overall taste.
• Red Onion: Introduces sharp, pungent notes that cut through the creamy base and add depth.
• Fresh Dill: Brings vibrant herbal freshness and classic pickle-like aroma that complements seafood perfectly.

• Dijon Mustard: Provides warm, slightly spicy undertone that enhances the sauce's complexity.
• White Wine Vinegar: Adds subtle acidic kick to brighten and balance the entire sauce.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that amplify and harmonize all the ingredient flavors.

Silky Ina Garten Tartar Sauce Recipe

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4.6 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s classic tartar sauce delights seafood enthusiasts with its creamy, tangy profile. Home cooks can easily blend mayonnaise, pickles, capers, and herbs for a simple yet elegant condiment that elevates fish dishes.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) small-diced pickles
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) capers
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) Champagne or white wine vinegar
• 1 tsp (5 ml) coarse-grained mustard
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Secure a food processor with a steel blade, ready to transform the pickle medley into a delectable sauce.
2. Ingredient Fusion: Combine all components within the processor, ensuring each element is poised for a harmonious blend.
3. Textural Refinement: Employ swift, controlled pulses to chop pickles into delicate, balanced fragments, avoiding over-processing that would compromise the sauce’s rustic charm.
4. Mixing Precision: Intermittently sweep the processor’s interior with a spatula, guaranteeing comprehensive ingredient integration and a consistent, vibrant mixture.
5. Final Composition: Conclude processing when the tartar sauce displays a perfect balance – finely chopped pickles suspended in a creamy backdrop, promising a burst of tangy, fresh flavor with each spoonful.

Notes

• Chop Carefully: Use pulse function to control pickle texture, preventing over-processing that could turn sauce into a mushy puree.
• Blade Selection Matters: Steel blade in food processor ensures precise, even chopping of pickle ingredients for optimal sauce consistency.
• Scrape and Mix: Regularly pause processing to scrape down processor sides, guaranteeing all ingredients blend uniformly without leaving unmixed portions.
• Texture Tells All: Final mixture should have small, visible pickle fragments, creating a chunky yet well-integrated tartar sauce with distinct ingredient character.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 2 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg