I Tested Ina Garten Tartar Sauce And It’s Ridiculously Good

There is an easy way to prepare tartar sauce: try the Ina Garten tartar sauce recipe.

This classic condiment requires only a few inexpensive ingredients, including good mayonnaise (which I’ll tell you how to make!), pickles, capers, herbs, and coarse grained mustard.

Plus I’ve also included Ina’s special ingredient – champagne – which gives this tartar recipe a delicious kick.

This recipe allows you to whip up a homemade tartar sauce in minutes. And I’ve even given you some serving suggestions, so you can wow your friends and family with tasty snacks and meals.

Inspired by Ina Garten Tartar Sauce

This recipe is inspired by the Ina Garten tartar sauce recipe. I really liked her take on a homemade tartar sauce so wanted to share it with you.

But, I’ve changed the recipe up a bit and added my own spin.

So here, I’m preparing my own mayonnaise. I’m also adding chives, chervil, parsley – but skipping the mustard (there is already mustard in the homemade mayonnaise).

If you want to know more about Ina Garten recipes, especially this homemade tartar sauce, check out her website. Or buy one of her cookbooks here.

Who Invented Tartar Sauce?

Tartar sauce began as “sauce tartare” in France. It was named after the Tartars, who colonized parts of Russia and Ukraine several hundred years ago.

The French first made this sauce, which is either aioli or mayonnaise-based. They likely took their name for it from their own spelling of the Tartar name, which was “tartare”.

So the recipe below is based on the traditional, French one. But with Ina Garten’s twists.

What Can I Substitute For Mayonnaise?

Sour Cream or Yogurt

If you’d like to lower the fat content of this Ina Garten tartar sauce recipe, substitute the mayonnaise base for a non-fat sour cream, non-fat plain yogurt, or Greek yogurt.

For each ½ cup of sour cream or yogurt, you’ll need to add 1 tablespoon of pickle relish or minced pickles, mustard, minced onions, and dried or fresh parsley.

Light Mayonnaise

You can also make lighter mayonnaise. Or buy a lower fat one from the grocery store.

To make your own light mayonnaise, do the following:

1. Put 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of mustard, and 1 teaspoon of white wine vinegar in a food processor.


2. Mix until the ingredients are well blended.


3. Then while the machine is still running, slowly pour 1 and ½ cups of light olive oil or vegetable oil into the mixture. This should thicken the sauce.


4. Finally, season with lemon juice and some freshly ground black pepper and salt. Keep the mixture refrigerated.

Dairy-free Yogurt

If you want to keep the recipe vegan, use a dairy-free yogurt. Or lots of stores now do a “veganaise” option.

Method

1. Make the Mayonnaise
   

   In your mixing bowl, add the egg yolk, coarse grained mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Whisk vigorously – or use an electric mixer if you have one.

   Then add the oil a little at a time. It’s best to add it little by little so that it gives time for the emulsion to set.

   The sauce should start to look shiny and have an elastic consistency. Gradually pour in all of the oil, whisking all the time.

   Once it’s reached a perfect, smooth texture, stop to taste. Add a little more salt if necessary.

   Cover it with film and store it in a cool, dry place if you’re not making the tartar sauce straight away.
   

2. Prepare the Tartar Sauce
   

   Wash the chives, chervil, parsley, and tarragon, and then make sure they’re completely dry. Next, chop the herbs.

   Use a sharp knife to make sure that the capers and pickles are finely chopped.

   Next, add the herbs, carpers, and diced pickles or cornichons to your mayonnaise. Also add the coarse grained mustard and the white wine vinegar, or for Ina’s luxurious twist, the champagne.

   If you have a mini chopper fitted with a steel blade, you can use this here to mix all the ingredients – otherwise, a mixing bowl is fine.

   Finally, add the freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt to taste.

   Keep your homemade tartar sauce in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
   

Ina Garten Tartar Sauce Serving Suggestions

Not sure what to do once with this mixture once you’ve completed the tartar sauce recipe?

Here are some delicious ideas for how to serve your Ina Garten tartar sauce.

• Fried food – homemade tartar sauce is a great dipping sauce for fried food! Try it with french fries, chicken wings, onion rings, or your preferred choice. For a healthier option, use an air fryer instead of a deep fryer.


• Sandwiches – don’t just automatically reach for the standard mayonnaise bottle! Tartar sauce is easy to spread in your sandwiches and goes well in all different types.


• Fish – creamy but tangy tartar sauce adds flavor, helps to lock in moisture, and helps breadcrumbs bind to the surface when you’re cooking fish. This is why you’ll have seen it as a traditional side served with fish and chips, fishcakes, or fish sticks. But why not also try it with seafood – it works really well with lobster and shrimp.


• Baked potatoes or hushpuppies – once you’ve cooked your baked potato, put a small scoop of your homemade tartar sauce inside and let the creamy sauce melt. Or serve as a sauce with hushpuppies.


• Eggs – tartar sauce works as a great alternative in devilled eggs. Or use it as a salad dressing over your egg salad.

How To Store Ina Garten Tartar Sauce

Ina Garten tartar sauce is easy to store. Once you’ve made it, cover it with film or keep it in an airtight container, and place it in your refrigerator.

It’ll last in the fridge for as long as all of the ingredients hold up.

So if you’ve used fresh ingredients that have good expiration dates, homemade tartar sauce should last for up to two weeks.

More Delicious Recipes

• Gordon Ramsay Tartar Sauce


• Bloves Sauce Recipe


• Honey Gold Chicken Wing Sauce Recipe


• Ina Garten Curry Chicken Salad Recipe