Say Goodbye To Bland Tartar Sauce With The Triple Pickle Method

While most people buy ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise at the store for convenience, the majority of staple condiments are actually quite easy to make. If you're looking for a fun summer project, we encourage you to try whipping up your very own batch of homemade tartar sauce. This condiment is an essential during the summer, adding brightness to fish sandwiches, crab cakes, and more. But there's a way to upgrade it even further for maximum crunch and punch. In a tartar sauce recipe provided by Mashed, the triple pickle method takes things to the next level.

The triple pickle method calls for exactly what it sounds like: three types of pickles. Many basic tartar sauce recipes already call for dill pickles, which are often brined in vinegar. They add a nice tangy kick that contrasts well with savory fried fish, but why stop there?

In addition to dill pickles, the triple pickle method calls for bread-and-butter pickles, which add a hint of sweetness, and chopped cucumbers. We know what you're thinking: Cucumbers aren't pickles. But hear us out: The Mashed recipe calls for a hint of malt vinegar and a handful of herbs, including dried dill, dried chives, onion powder, and garlic powder. The malt vinegar and herbs quick-pickle the cucumbers within the sauce, creating the third and final pickle.

To add the dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, and cucumbers to your tartar sauce, the best method is to finely chop them up. However, make sure you take the time to prep your ingredients before adding them to your sauce. This means draining your dill and bread-and-butter pickles well and giving your cucumbers a quick pat with a paper towel. Much like if you were to add pickle relish to your tartar sauce, forgetting to drain your prepped ingredients can result in a sauce that's overly runny, and when it comes to tartar sauce, the creamier the better.

Beyond making sure that your pickles are drained, there aren't too many rules when it comes to adding them to your tartar sauce. However, there are plenty of ways to customize it depending on what you'll be using it for and what flavors and textures you prefer. If you're looking for more of a tartar sauce dip that's a little chunkier and has 10x the flavor, don't be afraid to add more chopped pickles to the mix. However, if you're spreading it on a sandwich and would like to keep it on the creamier side, a tablespoon or two of each type of chopped pickle should be plenty.

Static Media owns and operates Tasting Table and Mashed.