French Cuisine
Homemade Tartar Sauce with Cornichons
Classic Homemade Tartar Sauce (Sauce Tartare) is a legendary French cold sauce that can transform a simple home dinner into a restaurant-quality meal. Its base consists of a delicate emulsion of egg yolks and oil, beautifully complemented by the pleasant crunch of savory cornichons, the tanginess of capers, and the freshness of aromatic herbs. The texture of the sauce is thick, silky, and textured due to the finely chopped pieces of vegetables, and the flavor unfolds with a smooth creamy chord balanced by bright tart-acidic accents. It is the perfect accompaniment to fried fish, seafood, crispy potatoes, and any vegetables.
Dishday
Recipe overview
- Total time
- 15 min
- Prep
- 15 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cuisine
- French Cuisine
Nutrition
per serving
- Calories
- 780 kcal
- Protein
- 3 g
- Fat
- 84 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fiber
- 0.5 g
Step by step
Method
- 01
In a deep narrow bowl, place the egg yolk, Dijon mustard, and…
In a deep narrow bowl, place the egg yolk, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt. Thoroughly rub the mixture with a whisk until a completely uniform mass is formed — this will become a strong base for our emulsion.
- 02
While continuing to whisk continuously and rapidly, begin to…
While continuing to whisk continuously and rapidly, begin to introduce the vegetable oil: first strictly drop by drop, and when the mass begins to lighten and thicken, in a thin, steady stream. Whisk until a thick, glossy mayonnaise structure is achieved.
- 03
Pour the lemon juice into the resulting mixture and add the f…
Pour the lemon juice into the resulting mixture and add the freshly ground black pepper, gently stirring the sauce with a whisk. The acidity will loosen the mass slightly, giving it a beautiful shade and a balanced taste.
- 04
Finely chop the cornichons and capers with a sharp knife into…
Finely chop the cornichons and capers with a sharp knife into tiny pieces. Wash the fresh herbs, dry them very thoroughly with a paper towel, and chop finely, removing any tough stems.
- 05
Add the chopped cornichons, capers, and herbs into the prepar…
Add the chopped cornichons, capers, and herbs into the prepared sauce base. Mix thoroughly with a spoon, cover, and place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes so that the sauce infuses, chills, and the flavors meld.
Dishday
Useful advice
Cooking tip
To prevent the sauce base — homemade mayonnaise — from separating, all ingredients (eggs, mustard, oil) must be at the same room temperature. Pour the vegetable oil initially drop by drop, while whisking continuously.
How to serve
Serve tartar chilled alongside hot baked white fish, fish cakes, fried shrimp, or potato wedges. The sauce beautifully highlights the crust and balances the richness of the dishes with its pleasant tanginess.
How to store
Since the sauce contains fresh yolks, store it in the refrigerator in a glass jar with a tightly closed lid for no more than 2-3 days. Do not freeze the sauce, otherwise the emulsion will completely break upon thawing.
Note
To lighten the flavor and calories, you can replace half of the homemade mayonnaise with high-quality thick Greek yogurt or French crème fraîche. Fresh tarragon will add a noble French touch to the sauce.
