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–+ servings
Thick, creamy 3 ingredient tartar sauce in a small white ramekin next to a piece of pan-seared fish

Quick & Creamy 3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce

This recipe is the result of an obsessive optimization process designed to produce a superior, restaurant-quality tartar sauce that stays thick and creamy without separating, utilizing only three core components.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 140 kcal

Equipment

  • Small bowl or airtight container
  • Heavy stainless steel spoon

Ingredients
  

Optimized Component Selection

  • 1 cup mayonnaise Full-fat recommended
  • 0.5 cup sweet pickle relish Essential for structure; do not substitute dill relish
  • 1 tsp lemon juice Freshly squeezed preferred

Instructions
 

Assembling Your Perfectly Balanced 3-Ingredient Tartar Sauce

  • Combine all ingredients (mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, and lemon juice) in a small bowl or airtight container.
  • Place the sauce in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This mandatory chilling period allows the flavors to meld together and stabilizes the emulsion.
  • Stir vigorously just before serving. This final agitation is critical to re-integrate any moisture pockets that settled during the chill and restore the sauce's glossy sheen.

Notes

The mandatory 60-minute chilling period allows the acetic acid and citric acid to permeate the fat molecules, achieving flavor equilibrium. The final stir right before serving is the most important procedural step to ensure the sauce remains cohesive and does not weep on the plate. This recipe yields approximately 1.5 cups and is best stored in a glass container for 5-7 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 0.2gFat: 14g
Keyword acid stabilizer, mayonnaise base, minimalist condiment, non-separating, sweet relish
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