Easy Vegan Tartar Sauce

Vegan tartar sauce is a mix of vegan mayonnaise, pickle relish, lemon juice and chopped dill, stirred together and left to sit for a few minutes so the flavours combine. It takes about five minutes to make with no cooking involved, and works as a dip or condiment for vegan fish sticks, crab cakes, burgers or roasted vegetables.

Where it comes from

Tartar sauce is said to have originated in France after the creation of the other beloved culinary staple, the mayonnaise, around the middle of the 18th century. The mayonnaise giant Hellman’s is the first company to sell a version of what we now know as tartar sauce around 1920.

It is basically a rémoulade, which is a cold sauce with many variations with a mayonnaise or aioli base. Depending on where it is found it can have capers, gherkins, dill, parsley, chopped up hard-boiled eggs or even olives. In the United States, the basic recipe calls for mayonnaise, dill pickles, and plain dill.

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The version below drops the egg and the dairy and keeps the tang.

Why this one

• Five minutes, one bowl, no cooking.
• Four ingredients, all of them things you probably have.
• It is egg-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
• It can be made with easy homemade vegan mayonnaise, or if you’re pressed for time, your favourite store-bought one.

Ingredients

• Vegan mayonnaise of your choice. The base. Shop-bought is fine, and homemade takes about two minutes.

I have made it with most of the supermarket brands and still prefer the homemade one.

• Or homemade vegan mayonnaise. For a delicious homemade vegan mayonnaise, you will need plant-based milk. Soy milk works best, but you could use another type of plant milk, oil, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Blend it with a stick blender and it comes together in seconds.
• Pickle relish. Again, you can use your favourite store, either a bought one or simply finely chop up some pickles. Sweet pickle relish can also be used if that is your preference.
• Lemon juice. Optional, and it lifts the whole thing. You can either add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or opt for bottled if you don’t have fresh lemons on hand.
• Dill. Fresh chopped dill is what makes it taste like tartar sauce rather than mayonnaise with pickles in it. Dried works at a pinch.

Method

1. In a bowl, mix by hand the vegan mayonnaise, pickle relish, lemon juice and dill.
2. Let it sit for a few minutes for the flavours to meld, salt to taste if needed, and serve.
3. If preparing for later, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until needed.

That is the whole recipe. It keeps about a week in the fridge.

Variations

Since this recipe is quick to make, here are some variations to try.

Classic

Goes with anything from vegan burgers to vegan fish cakes, vegan calamari. It could also serve as a salad dressing for pasta or potato salads.

To the basic recipe, I just add a dash of vegan Worcestershire sauce and finely chopped onion or shallots.

Mustard

Another variation for mustard lovers, combining two favourite condiments.

It adds a kick to the sauce and the combination with the maple syrup pairs well with French fries, thick-cut oven-baked wedges, vegan burgers, and any kind of wrap.

Parsley Tartar Sauce

A version with the addition of hot sauce, parsley, capers, and brine.

It will go with anything that you want to brighten up and give a healthy kick to.

The capers and the hot sauce give the sauce a distinct punch.

Dill and Garlic Tartar Sauce

Packed with subtle hints of garlic and dill, this version really takes the tartar sauce to another level.

Don’t forget to add the juice from the pickles.

Pair it with vegan burgers, vegan hot dogs and sausages, vegetables, or chips.

Share the image below to your Pinterest board if you like this Vegan Tartar Sauce Recipe.

Ingredients

Basic recipe:

• ½ cup vegan mayonnaise,
• Salt, pepper to taste,
• 1 Tbsp of dill relish,
• 1 tsp of chopped dill,

Classic Vegan Tartar Sauce

• 1 tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 small onion or shallot, finely minced

Mustard Tartar Sauce

• 2 tsp mustard
• 1 tsp maple syrup

Parsley Tartar Sauce

• 2 tsp hot sauce
• 1 handful parsley, finely chopped
• 2 capers
• 1 tbsp. caper brine.

Dill and Garlic Tartar Sauce

• 3 small pickles, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp. pickle juice
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 handful dill, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Prepare the basic recipe and add ingredients for the variations.
2. Add all the ingredients to a small bowl.
3. Mix well.
4. Serve or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

FAQs

Is vegan tartar sauce egg-free?

Yes. This tartar sauce uses vegan mayonnaise instead of an egg-based mayonnaise, so the whole sauce is egg-free, gluten-free and dairy-free.

What do you serve with vegan tartar sauce?

It works well with vegan fish cakes, vegan calamari, vegan burgers, chips or wedges, and plain vegetables, or as a dressing for pasta or potato salad.

How do you store vegan tartar sauce?

Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge until you need it.

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