One of the most common dipping sauces paired with fried fish is tartar sauce. Tartar is served in restaurants or prepared in household kitchens and combined with fresh-caught fish from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. When wondering what tartar sauce is, here are the 5 most frequent questions for those who wonder what is tartar sauce. 

What Is Tartar Sauce Usually Made Of

Tartar sauce is made of basic ingredients that are found stocked on the shelves of local grocery stores. 

When it comes to ingredients, the sauce comprises ingredients including mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pickles. Tartar is one of the most straightforward recipes to prepare and requires little to no cooking skills, and tastes great as a dip for beer-battered fish frys. 

Each ingredient is mixed together in a mixing bowl before being scooped into dipping sauce cups. 

We recommend the 2.5-ounce Stainless Steel Sauce Cup 12-Pack made by Tezzorio. 

Rather than chopping pickles, we recommend purchasing relish to save time. The measurements of each ingredient vary significantly based on the number of family, friends, or guests in attendance for the meal. One medium-sized fillet of fish equates to 2.5 ounces of tartar when it comes to portions. Therefore, make 10 ounces of tartar sauce when serving four fish dinners. 

When selecting the proper relish, you have the option between sweet and dill. For a classic tartar taste, we recommend purchasing sweet relish versus dill relish. 

To make things simple, use the following measurements when serving four guests. What is tartar sauce? Combine the following ingredients. 

  1. One cup of mayonnaise
  2. One teaspoon of fresh or bottled lemon juice with the seeds removed
  3. Two teaspoons of sweet relish

When preparing tartar sauce, the process takes no longer than five minutes. Simply measure, combine, and mix. Don’t hesitate to refrigerate and use at a later time. 

What Do You Put Tartar Sauce On

Beyond asking what is tartar sauce, people often wonder how tartar is used. Tartar sauce is used for dipping for more than just fish. 

Seafood goes beyond fresh fish fillets and includes scallops, shrimp, and crab. When frying, pair tartar sauce with any of these tasty seafood options.

Instead of ketchup, spread tartar across the top of a sandwich roll, stuffed with fish, crab cakes, or other fried seafood. 

French fries are frequently paired with fried seafood dinners. Dip the french fry in tartar for added flavor. 

Why Do They Call It Tartar Sauce

The word tartar is from the tartar group of people who lived in Europe, particularly France. Today, tartar sauce is used worldwide. 

Is Remoulade Sauce Like Tartar Sauce

Regarding tartar sauce versus remoulade, the two share similarities, including a mayo base and most frequently being paired with seafood.

When compared to tartar, Remoulade is spicy as it includes hot sauce and dry species, including creole or cajun seasonings. 

In addition to spices, another notable difference is the lack of diced pickles or relish. Instead, remoulade consists of pickle juice. 

When combined, a remoulade sauce is formed from mayonnaise, mustard, paprika, creole or cajun spice, horseradish, pick juice, hot sauce, and garlic. Check out this remoulade recipe. 

For those who prefer to heat things up consider pairing seafood with remoulade instead of tartar for the added spice. However, it is not uncommon for restaurants or families cooking at home to serve both tartar and remoulade on the side for dipping or spreading across sandwhiches. 

What Kind Of Fish Pairs Well With Tartar Sauce

Anglers in the south have the opportunity to catch a wide variety of salt and freshwater species of fish. Here are the best types of fish to pair with tartar for dipping when fried, grilled, broiled, baked, or sauteed. 

Freshwater

When catching and keeping freshwater fish through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, use tartar for the following fish- walleye perch, striped bass, catfish, bluegill, crappie, and more. 

Saltwater

When saltwater fishing inshore or offshore, the best fish to pair with tartar includes sea trout, redfish, flounder, mahi-mahi, grouper, snapper, and more. 

Now You Know The Answers To 5 Common What Is Tartar Sauce Questions

Tartar sauce is a favorite when paired with seafood because of its fresh creamy taste. We recommend preparing tartar at home compared to store-bought. Store-bought tartars lack flavor compared to following simple recipe instructions and making at home. Try fresh tartar sauce the next time you cook fish at home.