Captain D's Tartar Sauce Recipe (Copycat)
Ingredients
Directions / Instructions
Why You'll Love This Captain D's Tartar Sauce
Captain D's Tartar Sauce is one of the restaurant's most popular condiments thanks to its creamy texture and perfectly balanced sweet, tangy, and savory flavor. This homemade copycat recipe comes together in just minutes using simple pantry ingredients while delivering the same rich taste that pairs perfectly with seafood.
Whether you're serving crispy fish fillets, shrimp, crab cakes, fish sticks, salmon, or even French fries, this tartar sauce adds a delicious finishing touch. It also tastes even better after chilling, allowing the flavors to fully develop.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon finely minced onion
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Mix the Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, minced onion, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and parsley if using.
2. Whisk Until Smooth
Whisk everything together until fully combined and creamy.
3. Chill
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors have time to blend.
4. Taste and Adjust
Add a little more lemon juice for extra tanginess or additional relish for a sweeter flavor if desired.
5. Serve
Serve chilled with fried fish, shrimp, crab cakes, fish sandwiches, fries, or roasted seafood.
Expert Tips
Use full-fat mayonnaise for the richest flavor. Finely mince the onion so it blends smoothly into the sauce, and don't skip the chilling time—it makes a noticeable difference in taste.
Storage
Store the tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Stir before serving if any separation occurs. Freezing is not recommended because mayonnaise-based sauces may separate after thawing.
Serving Suggestions
Perfect with fried fish, fish sandwiches, fish sticks, popcorn shrimp, grilled salmon, crab cakes, lobster rolls, fried oysters, French fries, hush puppies, onion rings, and roasted vegetables.
Recipe Variations
Add chopped dill pickles instead of sweet relish for a tangier tartar sauce, mix in fresh dill or capers for extra flavor, or add a dash of hot sauce or cayenne pepper for mild heat. Greek yogurt can replace a portion of the mayonnaise for a lighter version.
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