An easy four-ingredient tartare sauce recipe, with a clever twist to make it healthier and our secret ingredient for a fully flavoured sauce. Many uses but perfect on fish and chips! Naturally gluten free.
Home-Made Tartare Sauce
Ed and I are generally creatures of habit. Every two or three weeks, come lunchtime, we’ll deem it a fish & chips day. Ed will whizz off on his scooter to our local chippy and come back with haddock and chips. While he’s gone, I’ll lay the table, warm the plates and assemble all manner of condiments – after all, fish & chips is mainly about the dips and sauces, isn’t it?
I discovered some years ago that you can thin mayonnaise down with low-fat yogurt, to a ratio of about 1:2. This doesn’t have much impact on the flavour but significantly reduces the number of calories. It is trick that I often use, and you will find it in my healthy potato salad and my healthy Coronation chicken. Fewer calories means we are allowed more chips, surely?
The secret ingredient in this sauce is a few drops of the pickle vinegar. It really adds some sharpness that cuts through the rich mayonnaise. With only 4 ingredients you can make a batch of this in 3 minutes, far better than buying a jar from the store.
Tartar Sauce or Tartare Sauce?
Tartar is the more common spelling in the US, tartare in the UK and British-influenced areas. The sauce itself gets its name from its history as a common accompaniment to steak tartare.
How to Make Tartare Sauce
This is a simple no-cook recipe.
Step one – Measure out the ingredients.
Step two – Rinse the capers under running water in a small sieve to remove excess salt. Then chop them finely.
Cut up the gherkins (the easiest way to do this is to slice lengthwise into batons and then chop into small cubes).
Step three – In a small mixing bowl, mix everything together. Taste, and adjust as you prefer.
Homemade Tartare Sauce Hints & Tips
- Sauce will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Use any leftover sauce as a dressing for some salad leaves, or on a simple grated carrot and sliced cabbage slaw.
- This sauce is also perfect in a slightly sinful fish-finger wrap or sandwich. Real comfort food!
- Add diced small pickled onions for an extra flavour.
- If the sauce is too thin, try straining the yogurt – the thicker the yogurt, the thicker and creamier the sauce will be.
- Make this vegan or dairy free with your regular vegan mayo and yogurt.
- Leftovers are perfect served as a dip with homemade tortilla chips, crudities or melba toast.
Quick & Healthy Tartare Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 tbs mayonnaise
- 2 tbs low fat plain yogurt (preferably Greek or thick)
- 1 tbs capers – drained and chopped
- 1 tbs gherkins – drained and chopped
- a few drops of the gherkin or caper vinegar
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse capers to remove excess salt.
- Finely chop the capers and gherkins.
- Mix all the ingredients, and adjust to taste.
Notes
- Sauce will keep for 3 days in the fridge.
- Use any leftover sauce as a dressing for some salad leaves, or on a simple grated carrot and sliced cabbage slaw.
- This sauce is also perfect in a slightly sinful fish-finger wrap or sandwich. Real comfort food!
- Add diced small pickled onions for an extra flavour.
- If the sauce is too thin, try straining the yogurt – the thicker the yogurt, the thicker and creamier the sauce will be.
- This recipe is 2 Weight Watchers Smart Points
What is your favourite dip for chips? You might also like my homemade kebab-shop chilli sauce – also ideal for chip dipping.
Update Notes: This recipe was originally posted in 2010, but was rewritten and republished with new photos, step-by-step instructions, and hints & tips in April 2019.
Elizabeth
Mmm yum! I make something similar, but never thought to put gherkins and capers in it. Gorgeous!
Helen
Fewer calories. More chips! I love my reasoning!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
This looks wonderful! I love making my own tartare sauce but haven’t tried using yogurt – great idea.
Helen
I usually use just capers as someone not too far from me eats the gherkins!
[email protected]
I adore tartare sauce, luckily we have 2 decent fish & chop shops near us so I can make this when we next have out Fish Friday supper!
Helen
There is nothing like a take out fish and chips!
Jo of Jo's Kitchen
What a great idea for making tartare sauce healthier. I will try this!
Eat Your Heart Out
Oh this will make a great addition to our Friday night chippy ritual! Px
Gary
I remember finding out what was in tartare sauce from a Gary Rhodes book. I would’ve never have guessed it was capers that make it! Always good to have a standby sauce recipe.
Helen
We love capers so much Gary. Especially if paired with anchovies. Just so good.
Jennifer Tammy
I’ve been wanting to figure out a healthy alternative to store-bought tartar sauce, thanks for doing the work for me ;)
Helen
this is far better and fresher than store bought!
Camilla @FabFood4All
Thank for this fab recipe as we’re huge fans of Tartare Sauce and if we run out I now know to make my own:-)
Helen
So easy to make your own Camilla.
Emily
Sounds brilliant! Can’t have fish and chips without some good tartare!
Helen
Indeed you cannot!
Kavey Favelle
Oooh yes, great way to reduce calories without losing flavour! Cunning idea I love it. The Heston chips are bloody marvellous, by the way, well worth the effort!
Helen
I had a lesson from Ashley Palmer Watts in the way of the Heston chip a few years ago. So delicious.
Nadia
Haha love the image of your husband on his Micro scooter! I need one of those in my life (the scooter I mean :P). After reading this post I’m craving fish and chips so badly with a side of your tartare sauce!!
Helen
It is actually National Fish & Chip day today! Ed’s scooter is amazing, so super speedy!
Dannii
This is how I make ours too. Anything that has Mayo in it, I sub half of it for yoghurt and can’t even taste the difference.
Helen
I suspect no one would notice the substitution in ingredients unless you actually told them.
Michelle @ Greedy Gourmet
As a saucy kind of a girl, this is right up my alley. If it’s a healthy version, even better!
Helen
I know you are a saucy girl!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
I am glad to see that you use capers and hand chopped gherkins instead of relish! I totally agree that is the way to go. I so wish we had a place to get great take out fish and chips here so I could pair this with it!
Helen
Capers and gherkins are a staple in my fridge.
Julia @ Happy Foods Tube
Omg! I haven’t eaten tartare sauce in years! Must try your version!
Helen
it is the only accompaniment to fish and chips.
Noel Lizotte
I have trouble finding tartar sauce that I truly like. Your recipe sounds as if it may be the solution! I love when I can control what goes into a sauce / recipe.
Helen
I far prefer my own recipes – no additives in this one.
Kelly @ trial and eater
I never thought of making my own tartar sauce! Looks so easy too!
Helen
so easy to make.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish
Mmmm. perfect! I love the tip about thinning it down and lessening the calorie content with some yogurt! I love fish and chips and can’t wait to try your tartar sauce recipe.
Helen
I use the yogurt trick all the time for anything with mayo in it. Such an easy substitution.
Joanna
I love the sound of this tartar sauce made with greek yogurt. It’s a great healthy alternative for adding next to a fish dish.
Helen
Yogurt is a great substitute for anything with mayo in.
Duncan Smith
Nothing beats fish and chips with a good dollop of tartare sauce. Great idea to make your own, this sounds delicious.
Carly
I have fond memories of fish and chips at a beach side cafe on the coast at Dunwich, Suffolk. Always served with a slice of lemon, peas and tartare sauce. Simply the best! Brilliant to be able to make your own at home.
Kerry
My son used to love tartare sauce when we had it at restaurants, until he found out there was gherkins in it. He now refuses to eat it. Maybe I can tempt him back with this recipe idea.
Lisa Dodds
I have never thought of making this sauce, it sounds really good to have with fish and chips.
Pete Thomas
Tartar sauce sounds really good. Bet it would be great with potato wedges.