Healthy Tartar Sauce Recipe without Mayo

Homemade condiments like this healthy tartar sauce recipe have the magical ability to transform any fish dinner into a taste sensation. With just a few flavorful ingredients, this yogurt-based sauce provides a healthy alternative to mayo. 

Jump to:

• Introduction
• Mise en place
• How to make tartar sauce without mayo
• Variations
• Tips
• FAQ
• More yogurt-based sauce recipes 
• Recipe inspiration
• Recipe

Introduction

If there is one thing for sure, learning how to make tartar sauce without mayo is an exceptionally flavorful and healthy approach that can bolster just about any seafood dish, whether it is tuna patties, salmon croquettes, or baked cod.

You can surely use this tartar sauce with a fish n’ chips recipe.

Though traditional methods certainly call for a large cup or two of mayonnaise as a primary ingredient, going with a yogurt-based sauce instead tastes just as (if not more) delectable than going with the old-fashioned route.

The best part?

This ultimate healthy tartar sauce recipe you are about to read below enables you to intensely savor every tasteful bite, all with a reduction of saturated fats and calories. 

Furthermore, tartar sauce is unimaginably easy to make. All it takes is a few minutes of chopping and stirring the ingredients together. 

Are you ready to up your healthy tartar sauce game? 

Mise en place

Since we are using a fair amount of fresh herbs, this recipe has a little mincing. So grab your sharpest knife because you are going to need it!

Prep the herbs: Let’s begin by properly rinsing the fresh herbs under cool running water. Once they are dry, you need

• 2 tablespoons of minced fresh chives
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh dill 
• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh parsley (Italian flat-leaf)

Prep the capers and the dill pickles: Two other ingredients need mincing:

• 4 dill pickles and
• 1 tablespoon of capers

How to make tartar sauce without mayo

Once the herbs and some of the ingredients have been minced, all you need to do now is combine them in a small bowl with the rest of the ingredients and mix them thoroughly together with a fork. More specifically:

• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons of pickle juice
• 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice 
• 1⁄4 teaspoon of kosher salt (or to taste)
• pinch of black pepper (or to taste)

That’s it! Please give it a little taste test and adjust the salt and pepper to taste.

Cover with plastic film and refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the flavors to meld.

Pretty simple and straightforward.

Variations

The real magic with this simple recipe is nailing down your perfect flavor combination. Now, if the above happens to be your ideal concoction, that is fantastic! But feel free to tweak/experiment with it until you get the savoring outcome you and your family will love. 

This is an exceptionally versatile recipe, and you can certainly match your condiment needs with the dish you are trying to enhance by:

• replacing the chives with tarragon.
• Using roasted garlic for another taste experience.
• Replacing the lemon juice with lime juice.
• Add green olives or bell peppers if your aim is texture rather than bright flavors. 
• Replacing the dill pickles with a sweet relish.
• Adding lemon zest for an extra tangy sauce.

Tips

• Rinse the capers before mincing.
• Use a fork rather than a whisk to combine the ingredients -it is easier to clean.
• This recipe can easily be doubled.

FAQ

More yogurt-based sauce recipes 

If you prefer a lighter, garlicky dipping sauce that can also be used as a healthy salad dressing, this garlic yogurt sauce is for you. 

Recipe inspiration

As a dietitian, I constantly try to create great-tasting healthy alternatives for some of my family’s favorite foods.

I’ve been recipe testing with my air fryer for the past couple of years. This past month has been about finding lighter versions of familiar deep-fried favorites. I’ve already posted recipes for both air fryer codfish and crinkle-cut fries. 

As you can tell from the above photo, I am testing a healthier air fryer version of fish and chips.

It was only a matter of time before my attention turned to creating a healthier version of the perfect condiment for fish. Ultimately, creating a homemade version is not nearly as complicated as it may sound. It can be downright fun to make.

It also tastes superior to any commercial product and is so much healthier without the mayonnaise.

I  hope you get a chance to try this easy homemade tartar sauce. 

Enjoy!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now, 

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this easy Greek yogurt tartar sauce recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe