This Whole30 Tartar Sauce is quick and easy to make with fresh cucumber, dill, and capers. Also fits a paleo and migraine diet because it only uses basic ingredients.
Why Make This Recipe?
A few weeks ago I was looking to make a new traditional crab cake recipe and thought it would be perfect with a little tartar or remoulade sauce. To my dismay, nearly every recipe included relish or pickles! As a lot of us know it’s really difficult to find pickles without coloring, additives, or preservatives of some sort. Don’t even get me started on the jarred tartar sauces out there. This recipe is great because:
- Minimal ingredients - fresh cucumber, mayo, mustard, vinegar and dill.
- No store-bought relish. Quick pickles are made with fresh cucumbers and they're extra crunchy and awesome.
- Great for summer seafood recipes like grilled salmon and shrimp, or even on burgers.
- This recipe for Whole30 tartar sauce is not only paleo, but also migraine diet compliant.
Ingredients
Mayo - My personal favorite mayo is Sir Kensingtons Organic, but Primal Kitchen is also another popular brand and a paleo option. You can also make your own. If you have an issue with eggs, give this aquafaba mayo recipe a try. It's a vegan mayo that uses chickpea juice instead of raw egg.
Grainy mustard - Grainy mustard is more traditional but dijon will also work.
Cucumbers and Distilled White Vinegar - This is how you make quick pickles.
Dill - necessary for that refreshing taste! I prefer fresh but dried will work in a pinch.
As for the capers, if you’re on a migraine diet, these can be questionable since they’re pickled flower buds and not exactly fresh. If you’ve tried olives and done well with them, you can typically find good capers that are just packed in just water and vinegar. Here's a post that explains a little more on that subject! I like to just rinse them really well and pat them dry with paper towels.
How to Make Homemade Tartar Sauce
- If making your own mayo, start by whipping it up in a food processor or with an immersion blender.
- Meanwhile add the chopped cucumbers and vinegar to a small bowl to quick pickle. Finally add the other ingredients, including the mayo and dill. Allow everything to chill for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to combine.
- Serve cold!
And don't miss it on these migraine-friendly Maryland Crab Cakes.
Other Sauce Recipes
If you're looking for other sauces and dressings, like this Whole30 Tartar Sauce, these options are great and also fit a paleo, whole30 and migraine diet!
If you make this, tag me #thedizzycook or @thedizzycook on Facebook and Instagram. And if you love the recipe, please leave a review below! Follow along on my Pinterest for more great recipes.
Whole30 Tartar Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise *see post for recommendations
- 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
- ¼ cup finely chopped seedless cucumber
- 1 teaspoon grainy mustard *If you can't find a compliant brand, try ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped capers (optional for migraine diets)
- freshly cracked pepper and kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped cucumber with distilled white vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Add other ingredients and stir to combine, tasting to see if it needs any seasonings. I personally always add pepper, but prefer it without salt unless you're not using capers. Place it back in the fridge and allow it to chill for at least 30 minutes for the flavors to combine.
Notes
- You can use homemade mayo or Primal Kitchen for all Whole30. See post for two homemade recipes, one without eggs.
Nutrition
This post was updated on August 13, 2021 to include extra tips on how to make this homemade tartar sauce.
Pam says
Thanks, i just made this! I used my own homemade "quick pickles" in there! I'm excited to try it tonight with some HYH safe 'fish nuggets" I found at Trader Joe's! I've been missing tartar sauce and tried to make it myself before and it never came out right!
I'm excited for your crab cake recipe next!
Alicia says
Oh fish nuggets - that's a great idea! I still miss the lemon, but I thought this was pretty tasty. 🙂
Georganne Oldenburg says
I just wanted to thank you for all the effort you put into your website. The information on food sources such as the mayo you like is very helpful for me. I just spent 2 hours at the grocery store tonight reading labels trying to come up with a salad dressing I could use and things I could eat. When I got home I saw this post and I was pleasantly surprised that I had read the label of the very same organic mayo you recommended. I passed it up so that I could come home and check my list of "yes" and "no" foods. It's expensive and I didn't want to make a costly mistake. One more time, thank you. I appreciate your assistance every day.
Alicia says
Your comment made me smile, Georganne! I remember those days too and applaud you for really making the effort on this. It does get easier and you'll be an expert in no time. 🙂 It is expensive! Who would have those the products with the most basic ingredients would be the most expensive? I think the mayos are definitely worth it but I could never bring myself to buy the tiny $7 package of safe granola...I'll make it myself!! 🙂
Jill says
Welcome back Alicia!!
We’ve missed you! x
Alicia says
Aw thanks, Jill!! Haha! Feels good to be posting recipes I'm not obsessing over!
Jill says
Can’t wait to see your cookbook!!!