Zips Tartar Sauce Recipe
Elevate your seafood game with our irresistible Zip's Tartar Sauce recipe. Quick, easy, and packed with flavor. Dive in now!
- Publisher: Crisp Recipe
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Appetizer
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Servings: 15
- Calories: 60 calories
Zips Tartar Sauce
Zip's Tartar Sauce is a popular condiment known for its tangy and creamy flavor, often served alongside seafood dishes such as fried fish, shrimp, or crab cakes. It's a signature sauce associated with Zip's Drive-In, a regional fast-food chain primarily located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
Zip's Tartar Sauce is renowned for its simplicity and delightful taste. It typically consists of mayonnaise as the base ingredient, giving it a rich and creamy texture. To add a tangy kick, it incorporates elements like sweet pickle relish, chopped onions, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard. Some variations may also include minced garlic for an extra layer of flavor. Salt and pepper are used to season the sauce, allowing you to adjust the taste to your preference.
The sauce is effortless to prepare and can elevate the enjoyment of various seafood dishes, making it a beloved condiment in the region. Many people appreciate the balance of flavors in Zip's Tartar Sauce, with the sweetness of the relish contrasting nicely with the acidity of the lemon juice and the savory notes of the onion and mustard.
Whether you're dipping crispy fish fillets or slathering it on a seafood sandwich, Zip's Tartar Sauce adds a delightful zing to your meal, making it a cherished accompaniment for seafood lovers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Recipe
Discover the secret to mouthwatering seafood with our Zip's Tartar Sauce recipe! Dive into a world of flavor in just minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, chopped onion, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic (if using).
- Stir everything together until well mixed.
- Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper to your liking. You can also add a bit more lemon juice or mustard if you prefer a tangier flavor.
- Once you're satisfied with the taste, cover the bowl and refrigerate the tartar sauce for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
- Serve the tartar sauce as a dipping sauce for seafood, like fried fish or shrimp, or as a condiment for sandwiches and burgers.
Recipe Video
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Rated: 4.9 of 5.0 from 145 reviews.
Recipe Tags: Zips Tartar Sauce, Zips Tartar Sauce Recipe, Recipe
Servings
You can serve Zip's Tartar Sauce in several delicious ways, depending on your preference and the type of meal you're enjoying. Here are some common serving suggestions:
- Seafood Dipping Sauce: Zip's Tartar Sauce is most commonly used as a dipping sauce for fried or grilled seafood. It pairs perfectly with fried fish fillets, shrimp, crab cakes, calamari, or even fish sticks. Simply put a dollop of tartar sauce in a small dish or ramekin and serve it alongside your seafood.
- Sandwich Condiment: Use it as a condiment for seafood sandwiches or burgers. Spread a generous amount of Zip's Tartar Sauce on buns or rolls before assembling your sandwich. It adds creaminess and flavor to the overall taste.
- Fish and Chips: If you're enjoying a classic fish and chips meal, serve Zip's Tartar Sauce as the primary dipping sauce for the crispy fish and the side of French fries. It's a classic combination.
- Salad Dressing: Get creative and use this tartar sauce as a dressing for a seafood salad. It can be a delightful addition to a mixed greens salad with pieces of grilled or poached seafood.
- Wrap or Tacos: For a twist, drizzle Zip's Tartar Sauce over seafood wraps or tacos. It can enhance the flavor and creaminess of the filling.
- Appetizer Platter: When serving a seafood appetizer platter, such as a shrimp cocktail or a seafood sampler, provide Zip's Tartar Sauce as one of the dipping options.
Versatility of tartar sauce allows you to get creative in the kitchen. Feel free to experiment and discover new ways to enjoy this creamy and tangy condiment with your favorite seafood dishes.
Tips
- Fresh Ingredients: Whenever possible, use fresh ingredients, especially for the lemon juice and onion. Freshly squeezed lemon juice and finely chopped, fresh onions will provide the best flavor.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste your tartar sauce before refrigerating it, and adjust the seasoning to your liking. You can add more lemon juice for extra tanginess, more mustard for a kick, or extra pickle relish for sweetness.
- Chill Before Serving: Allow the tartar sauce to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to meld together and enhances the overall taste.
- Minced Garlic (Optional): The recipe includes minced garlic as an optional ingredient. If you enjoy the flavor of garlic, you can add it for extra depth. However, if you prefer a milder sauce, you can omit it.
- Consistency: If you prefer a thicker tartar sauce, you can add a bit more mayonnaise. For a thinner consistency, you can add a touch of milk or cream.
- Storage: Homemade tartar sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Make sure to give it a good stir before each use.
- Customize: Feel free to customize your tartar sauce with additional ingredients to suit your taste. Some people like to add capers, chopped dill pickles, or fresh herbs like dill or parsley.
- Serve Creatively: Besides seafood, get creative with how you serve tartar sauce. It can also be a tasty dip for vegetables, a topping for baked potatoes, or a condiment for sandwiches beyond seafood.
Ingredient Substitutes
- Mayonnaise Substitute:
- Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt can provide a tangy and creamy base similar to mayonnaise, with fewer calories.
- Sour cream: Sour cream can be used for a slightly tangier and creamier texture.
- Sweet Pickle Relish Substitute:
- Chopped dill pickles: If you prefer a dill flavor, you can substitute sweet pickle relish with finely chopped dill pickles.
- Chopped bread-and-butter pickles: These have a sweet and tangy flavor similar to sweet pickle relish.
- Onion Substitute:
- Scallions (green onions): Chopped scallions can be used instead of regular onions for a milder onion flavor.
- Shallots: Finely minced shallots can add a slightly different oniony taste.
- Lemon Juice Substitute:
- White wine vinegar: White wine vinegar can provide the acidity and tanginess that lemon juice offers.
- Apple cider vinegar: This vinegar can also work as a substitute for lemon juice.
- Dijon Mustard Substitute:
- Yellow mustard: Yellow mustard has a milder flavor compared to Dijon mustard but can still add a nice tang to your sauce.
- Whole grain mustard: Whole grain mustard can provide a similar texture to Dijon and a subtle grainy texture.
- Garlic Substitute (if omitting is preferred):
- Garlic powder: If you want to skip the minced garlic, you can use a pinch of garlic powder for a milder garlic flavor.
- Salt and Pepper: These can be adjusted to taste. You can use sea salt, kosher salt, or any preferred type of salt. For pepper, freshly ground black pepper is recommended.
Remarks
Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with Zip's Tartar Sauce! Whether you're a seafood enthusiast or not, this recipe is a game-changer. Bon appétit!