tartare sauce
B2Culinary / Everyday
Definition
Meaning
A cold, white sauce for food, typically made from mayonnaise, chopped gherkins, capers, and herbs.
A condiment traditionally served with fried or grilled fish and seafood, but also used with other dishes. It is characterized by its creamy base and briny, tangy flavour from pickled ingredients.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively refers to the specific sauce. The term is a culinary one that has entered common use, primarily in the context of eating out or cooking. It is not typically used metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term. In the UK, 'tartare sauce' is the standard term. In the US, the single-word spelling 'tartarsauce' is also common, and the sauce is sometimes simply called 'tartar' in casual contexts (e.g., 'fish and chips with tartar').
Connotations
In both regions, it strongly connotes fried fish, especially fish and chips (UK) or fried fish fillets/fish sticks (US). It is considered a standard, somewhat plain condiment, not a gourmet item.
Frequency
More frequent in everyday speech in the UK due to the cultural prominence of fish and chips. In the US, it is common but may be slightly less ubiquitous than ketchup or mustard.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Food] + be + served with + tartare sauce[Person] + dipped + [Food] + in + tartare saucetartare sauce + accompanied + the + [Dish]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated with the sauce]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in food industry reports, restaurant supply catalogues, or menu costing analyses.
Academic
Very rare, except in historical or cultural studies of food.
Everyday
Very common. Used when ordering food, discussing recipes, or describing a meal.
Technical
Common in professional cookery, culinary arts textbooks, and food science contexts discussing emulsions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [N/A]
American English
- [N/A]
adverb
British English
- [N/A]
American English
- [N/A]
adjective
British English
- [N/A]
American English
- [N/A]
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like fish and chips with tartare sauce.
- Do you want tartare sauce with your fish?
- The recipe for homemade tartare sauce includes mayonnaise, pickles, and lemon juice.
- Could you pass the tartare sauce, please?
- The grilled seabass was beautifully complemented by a sharp, homemade tartare sauce.
- Many people find shop-bought tartare sauce too bland compared to the fresh version.
- The chef's deconstruction of the classic fish dish featured a quenelle of tarragon-infused tartare sauce.
- While remoulade and tartare sauce share a common ancestry, the former typically incorporates mustard for a more piquant flavour profile.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: "TART taste" – the sauce is tangy and tart, perfect for cutting through the richness of fried food.
Conceptual Metaphor
SAUCE IS AN ACCOMPANIMENT / SAUCE IS A DRESSING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'соус тар-тар' which is a direct borrowing and correct. The main trap is assuming it's a direct translation of a common Russian sauce (it's not). It is a specific Western condiment.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tartar sauce' (common and often accepted) or 'tarter sauce'. Incorrectly using it as a hot sauce.
- Confusing it with 'steak tartare' (raw minced beef).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary flavour characteristic of tartare sauce?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they refer to the same condiment. 'Tartare sauce' is the more common spelling in the UK, while 'tartar sauce' is standard in the US.
The base is almost always mayonnaise. Other key ingredients include finely chopped gherkins (pickles), capers, parsley, and lemon juice or vinegar.
Yes, while traditional with fish, it can also be used as a dip for vegetables, onion rings, or served with crab cakes and other fried seafood.
They are very similar. Remoulade is often considered a more complex, spicier cousin, frequently containing mustard, paprika, anchovies, or horseradish, whereas tartare sauce is generally milder and simpler.