Spicy Cajun Tartar Sauce
Spice up your seafood with Cajun Tartar Sauce! Packed with bold Cajun flavors, this zesty condiment adds a fiery kick to your favorite grilled or fried fish dishes. Spicy tartar sauce is easy to whip up and impossible to resist.
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I will guide you through how to make the best tartar sauce in under 5 minutes using simple ingredients. Make a big batch to have on hand any time you want to add a burst of flavor to fish.
Serve this delicious sauce with my air fryer tilapia, crusted tilapia recipe, or buttery mahi mahi for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner any day of the week.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Homemade is best! Unlike store-bought options, this homemade tartar sauce guarantees a vibrant flavor that comes from freshly mixed herbs and spices. We love to be in control of the ingredients that go into our condiments. You won't find any excessive sugar, sodium, or added preservatives here.
Bold flavor: Add a spicy kick to anything you put this sauce on. This tartar sauce with capers, dill, pickles, and hot sauce is packed full of flavor and spice.
Versatile: Dunk any of your favorite seafood recipes in this zesty tartar sauce. We love to use this as a dipping sauce for catfish, fried fish, and crab cakes. It's also a perfect spread on po boys and sandwiches.
Ingredients
Each ingredient plays an important role, contributing specific flavors and textures that, when combined, result in a well-balanced and flavorful Cajun tartar sauce.
- Mayonnaise serves as the creamy base, providing a rich and smooth texture.
- Pickles add a delightful crunch and tanginess to this Cajun tartar sauce recipe. This is a tartar sauce without relish as we prefer the flavor and crunch of chopped pickles, or cornichons.
- Capers add a briny flavor, enhancing the complexity of the sauce. Plus, their small size adds another pop of texture.
- Fresh dill brings a burst of herbaceous freshness and brightens the overall taste.
- Hot sauce introduces a controlled heat that aligns perfectly with Cajun cuisine. It adds a zesty kick to this spicy tartar sauce. Use a Louisiana-style hot sauce, such as Crystal (our favorite!) or Tabasco.
- Lemon juice enhances the flavor and cuts through the richness of the mayo by adding a bright, citrus acidity.
- Cajun seasoning is the heart of this Louisiana tartar sauce recipe, infusing the creamy sauce with the robust and flavorful essence of Cajun cuisine. Use a store-bought blend or make your own Cajun seasoning.
- Dried minced onion adds a savory depth to this Creole tartar sauce and enhances the overall flavor.
How to Make Cajun Tartar Sauce
Whether you're dipping, spreading, or dolloping, this homemade Cajun tartar sauce will make your taste buds dance.
Learning how to make spicy tartar sauce is easy. Make this dipping sauce for fish in two simple steps using minimal ingredients and kitchen tools.
Step 1: Prep Cajun tartar sauce ingredients by chopping pickles, capers, and dill. Then add all components to a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix ingredients in the bowl by stirring with a spoon until well combined. Let this caper tartar sauce recipe sit for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld before serving.
This Louisiana tartar sauce is a perfect addition to any plate of seafood. You've heard to serve tartar sauce with fried fish, but its also great with grilled fish, blackened chicken, fish sandwiches, and hush puppies.
Storage
Store Cajun tartar sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Remember to check the expiration dates of individual ingredients. If the sauce develops an off smell or taste, it's advisable to discard it to ensure food safety.
I do not advise freezing this recipe. Typically, mayo based sauces do not freeze well due to potential texture changes when thawed.
Hungry for More?
Cajun & Creole recipes:
Cajun Shrimp Scampi
Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya
Cajun Spaghetti
Cajun Salmon Pasta
Baked Blackened Salmon
Blackened Salmon Bowl
Homemade Cajun Seasoning
Cajun Crab Dip
Cajun Alfredo Sauce
Cajun Tartar Sauce
If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!
Homemade Cajun Tartar Sauce Recipe
Save this Recipe!
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Equipment
- knife
- cutting board
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons pickles chopped
- 1 teaspoon non-pareil capers minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh dill chopped
- 1 teaspoon Louisiana-style hot sauce such as Crystal or Tabasco
- ¾ teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried minced onion
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
Instructions
- Prep ingredients by chopping pickles, capers, and dill.
- Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl. Mix ingredients with a spoon until well combined.
- Let the sauce chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Non-pareil capers have a more subtle flavor and delicate texture than larger regular capers. We prefer the taste of smaller, non-pareil capers in this recipe.
- Cajun seasoning contains salt, so there is no need to add any more to this recipe.
- Let homemade Cajun tartar sauce sit in the refrigerator 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors meld before serving. This is a great sauce to make ahead.
Wow this is soooo good! What a great zing!
Angela put this together for us and this is leaps and bounds better than store bought; I couldn’t get enough of it!