The Tastiest Use For Tartar Sauce Beyond Fish

If you reserve tartar sauce for fish dishes only, you're not alone. The tangy creaminess of this condiment complements the briny flavor of seafood perfectly. However, using it sparingly might be a waste of its potential, especially if it's homemade. Fortunately, tartar sauce can do more than just accompany fish: It can also help you up your game the next time you make baked potatoes.

These oven-cooked spuds offer endless possibilities when it comes to toppings, from dollops of sour cream to blue cheese to caviar. You can even top your baked potato with a hot dog. So, adding tartar sauce to the list isn't exactly shocking, especially when it has all the makings of a delicious baked potato topping. The mayonnaise base lends a silky texture to the tuber's fluffy interior, while the lemon juice and pickle relish provide a refreshing acidity. You can also count on the freshness from the various herbs and the zing of Dijon mustard in the sauce to add a lovely contrast to the baked potato's rich starchiness and subtle earthiness.

If mayo is a dealbreaker for you, or you're simply out of the tangy spread, don't worry. There's another way to elevate your next baked potato with the zippy flavors of tartar sauce using an ingredient you probably already have on hand.

If you love the tangy kick of sour cream on your baked potato but crave something more exciting than usual, give sour cream tartar sauce a try. Instead of using mayonnaise, swap it out for sour cream as the base (you can also use the light kind), then follow the same steps and ingredients you would for making homemade tartar sauce. The result? A creamy, zesty sauce amped up with the familiar tartness and richness of sour cream; the fermented dairy lends a unique, complementary acidity and luxurious consistency to the condiment.

Even better, whipping some up couldn't be easier: Simply replace mayo with sour cream in equal measure. Drop a dollop of this extra creamy, extra sour tartar sauce onto your baked potato and might forget all about fried seafood — at least for a little while. And although the even swap of ingredients is easy enough, feel free to adjust the proportion of sour cream and other ingredients like pickles and lemon juice to tailor the sauce to your palate. It's all but certain to upgrade your humble baked potato and give it a restaurant-grade makeover.