How to Make Tartar Sauce Without Relish

Last Updated on February 27, 2023 by Ellen Christian

You are going to love this tartar sauce recipe for fish and seafood! Learn how to make tartar sauce without relish with this recipe.

When I was younger, mustard meant one thing – yellow mustard. You know that bright yellow condiment that some people put on hot dogs.  You use it in my homemade tartar sauce.

How to Make Tartar Sauce

I really had no idea that mustard was available any other way until I was older and started noticing the spicy brown type mustard in the store. Mustard comes from the seeds of the mustard plant.  There are brown, yellow, and white mustard seeds and the individual flavor of each type of mustard depends on how much of which type of mustard seed you use.

After grinding the mustard seeds into flour, you add things like sugar and seasonings to get the finished condiment.

Colman’s of Norwich is widely recognized as the English mustard in the UK. They use a blend of brown mustard seeds (for heat) and white mustard seeds (for flavor) to create a unique and complex condiment that stands out from the rest.  

In 1866, Queen Victoria bestowed the ultimate seal of approval on Colman’s Mustard – the Royal Warrant.  Colman’s Mustard is sold as both a ground mustard powder and as prepared mustard. I’ve used Colman’s Mustard in the ground powder form before but had never tried the prepared mustard.  When I received a jar, I started hunting for the perfect recipe.

I wanted a recipe that really let the unique taste of the Colman’s English Mustard come alive. And, I decided to go with this tartar sauce recipe for fish.  I always make my own tartar sauce because I really dislike the bland taste of the store-prepared ones.  It’s quite simple to make your own.

What type of mayonnaise should I use?

I usually start with my homemade mayonnaise because it tastes so much better than store-bought.  If you are short on time, you can certainly use store-bought. But, if you have time, consider making your own mayonnaise. It really does make this the best tartar sauce recipe for fish I’ve tried.

Have you ever wondered where the name Tartar sauce comes from? It’s been around since at least the 19th century.  It comes from a French sauce tartare which is named after the Tartars, a French ethnic group.

How to make tartar sauce without relish

Now, if you’re wondering how to make tartar sauce without relish, I have a secret. Just chop up pickles and use that in place of relish. That’s all there is to it. Such an easy cooking hack and it tastes so good! If you like a sweet tartar sauce recipe, use sweet pickles. And, if you like a traditional tartar sauce recipe, use a dill pickle.

You really can use this tartar sauce recipe for any fish or seafood dish. The kids love it with fish sticks. Marty enjoys it on tilapia, and I love it on fresh seafood.

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