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Captain D's Tartar Sauce Recipe

Captain D's Tartar Sauce Recipe

Missing that perfect creamy seafood dip from Captain D's? This Captain D's Tartar Sauce Recipe recreates their famous tangy-creamy magic using simple pantry ingredients.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Condiment
Cuisine Southern Seafood
Servings 8
Calories 180 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Duke's mayonnaise or Hellmann's
  • 3 Tbsp sweet pickle relish drained
  • 2 Tbsp finely minced white onion
  • 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp dill pickle juice
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp chopped fresh dill optional

Instructions
 

Mince Onion Finely

  • Dice white onion into tiny 1/8-inch pieces. No large chunks allowed.

Drain Relish Well

  • Pat sweet pickle relish with paper towels. Remove excess liquid.

Mayo Foundation

  • Spoon mayonnaise into mixing bowl. Create smooth base layer.

Acid Balance

  • Add lemon juice and pickle juice. Stir until fully incorporated.

Tangy Mustard

  • Whisk in Dijon mustard and sugar until sugar completely dissolves.

Seasoning Blend

  • Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper evenly.

Mix Relish Gently

  • Fold in drained relish carefully. Preserve pickle texture.

Fresh Dill Finish

  • Stir in chopped fresh dill if using. Elevates flavor instantly.

Taste Perfection

  • Sample sauce. Adjust lemon juice for custom tang level.

Smooth Consistency

  • Whisk vigorously 30 seconds for silky restaurant texture.

Chill Essential

  • Cover tightly. Refrigerate minimum 1 hour for flavor marriage.

Jar Storage

  • Transfer to glass jar. Keeps 2 weeks refrigerated perfectly.

Notes

  • Duke's mayonnaise essential for authentic Southern restaurant tang everyone recognizes instantly.
  • Ultra-fine onion dice prevents chunky texture ruining creamy seafood dip perfection.
  • 1-hour chill minimum allows flavors to meld into restaurant-quality taste transformation.
  • Capers substitution for relish creates upscale briny seafood restaurant sophistication.
  • Greek yogurt half-and-half lightens calories while maintaining creamy mouthfeel perfectly.
  • Hot sauce dash transforms into spicy seafood boil dipping companion.
  • Fresh herbs elevate dried dill, parsley, chives to gourmet condiment status instantly.
Keyword Captain D's Tartar Sauce Recipe