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Vegan tartar sauce is a deliciously creamy dip and made with vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, fresh dill, capers, and pickles. It's the perfect dip for parties or a topping for sandwiches or baked potatoes. It's easy to whip together any day of the week to add a little something extra special to your meal!
This vegan tartar sauce recipe is a great substitution for regular tartar sauce! It's prefect if you are looking to follow a vegan diet or if you just want to make an eggless tartar sauce. It goes well with fresh veggies, a fish and chip supper, fish sandwiches, vegan crab cakes, seafood dishes, vegan nuggets, or vegan fish sticks. You can make different vegan versions of this homemade recipe to suit your tastes and preferences.
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This is no traditional tartar sauce that you'll find stuffed in old cookbooks! This creamy condiment is tangy with a hint of sweetness that you'll want to put on all your vegan, vegetarian or (if you eat meat) fish dishes from now on. Once you make your own vegan tartar sauce, you won't go back to the grocery store version again!
👩🏽🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Dipping sauce
- Quick and easy
- Vegan and vegetarian
- Packed with so much flavor!
- Best vegan tartar sauce recipe ever!
🥘 Ingredients
This recipe calls for simple ingredients easily found at most grocery stores! See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and detailed instructions.
Ingredients of Tartar Sauce
Vegan mayonnaise: This is used instead of mayonnaise made with eggs to fit many different lifestyles and diets.
Lemon juice: A bit of fresh-squeezed lemon juice makes the sauce tangy and thinner so it's easier to dip into.
Salt and pepper: Some seasoning is needed to bring out the other flavors.
Fresh dill: Dill gives this French condiment an herby and bright flavor.
Capers: Capers are a bit salty and tangy and add texture to the sauce.
Dill pickles: Crunchy dill pickles also add texture and a sour note.
🍽 Equipment
📖 Variations
Here are a few ways you can make changes to this easy vegan tartar sauce.
Herbs: Fresh dill is the classic flavor of this sauce, however, you can use dried dill, thyme, tarragon, chives, or chervil.
Seasonings: In addition to salt and pepper, you can also add onion powder or garlic powder. Also, you can try using sea salt instead of kosher or table salt.
Liquids: For some different flavors, try using dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, or maple syrup. You can also use homemade vegan mayo if you'd like to make it instead of buying it from the store.
Extras: Instead of using whole dill pickles and then chopping them yourself, you can use dill relish or sweet pickle relish. You can also try using silken tofu.
🔪 Instructions
Before making this quick vegan tartar sauce, it's easiest to get everything prepped first and then combine it all together.
Prepare the ingredients: Chop the pickles and capers, measure out the salt and pepper, prepare the vegan mayo, cut and juice the lemon, and dice the fresh dill.
Combine it all together: Once everything is prepared, whisk it all together or use a food processor to make it smooth.
❓Recipe FAQs
Is tartar sauce and mayonnaise the same thing?
No, mayonnaise is the base of tartar sauce which includes other ingredients like dill pickles, capers, and fresh dill.
Does tartar sauce have dairy in it?
Traditional tartar sauce includes eggs but no other dairy products. In this version, there is no dairy since we use vegan mayonnaise.
Is tartar sauce healthy?
Yes, tartar sauce can be healthy! It all depends on which type of mayonnaise you use - if you use an organic or vegan mayo with no processed ingredients, then your sauce will be all natural and healthy! Keep in mind that since it is made with mayo, it is still relatively high in calories, so stick to one serving and you'll be good to go!
👨👩👧 How To Serve
Vegan tartare sauce goes great with so many dishes. Here are a few ideas for you to try out.
Use this homemade tartar sauce to dip with this Air Fryer Jicama Fries Recipe, Air Fryer Frozen French Fries, or this Easy Air Fryer Carrots Recipe!
🧊 How To Store
You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
You can also freeze it in an ice cube tray and then remove the blocks to a freezer bag for easier storage. This is handy because you can thaw exactly as much as you'll need instead of having to thaw a big container of it.
The smaller squares will also come to room temperature much more quickly than a larger block of it would.
💭 Expert Tips
- If you want to keep this dipping sauce chunky, all you need to do is stir the ingredients together. If you want a smoother version, use your food processor or blender to puree it. This works well if you're using it as a topping for a fish sandwich or even a salad dressing.
- You can make this ahead of time and store it before serving - it will only become more flavorful as the ingredients have a chance to blend together!
- Take this homemade vegan tartar sauce recipe to the next level with minced shallots, olives, parsley, or other herbs.
