neversremedy8 | Ana's Favorite Tartar Sauce (Reply)

So, let's say there's a pair of women who like tartar sauce, and let's say they discovered a new kind of tartar at a restaurant ...

Now, for years I've been making a quick, traditional sweet relish tartar using mayo and sweet relish. When my girlfriend and I worked together, we discovered The Owl & Thistle's tartar, which added dill weed to the mix. Since then (late 90's), I've been making it with those three simple ingredients. Until now.

While I was pregnant, my daughter and I headed to the best burger joint in the world: 8oz. Burger Bar in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Diving into their burgers and garlic fries together was a delight. Eating burgers never felt so luxurious! And as was common for us, we ordered the tartar for the fries.

It came to the table in a metal tin, somewhat olive green, and it was savory. Some people won't find that odd, but for us it was new and unique and delicious. Capers tartar, we were told, and we ordered an extra tin.

At our most recent visit (it was my third and her second time there), we ordered tartar. And. It. Wasn't. Capers. Tartar. My partner there for the first time enjoyed himself, especially since this tartar was spicy, it had chipotle in it. But Ana and I were disappointed to hear they weren't carrying it any longer.

So, I set out to try to recreate it from taste memory. Sometimes I get things right this way. I mixed my Veganaise (I'm sensitive to chicken eggs), the grapeseed oil type with the purple lid, with various ingredients.

It didn't taste like the tartar we loved at 8oz., but it was incredible in its own right. My daughter fought me for the last serving to go with our fish and sweet potato tots, and I've learned to make more. She says it tastes like the pakora dip at Clay Oven in Woodinville, and I agree it's similar, but I have a fair idea of how their ingredients differ.

So why am I writing this? To share, of course!

Mama's Savory Capers Tartar

4 T. Mayonnaise (e.g. Helmann's/Best Foods; NOT Miracle Whip!) or Veganaise (purple top or original)
1 t. Dill weed
1 T. Capers, drained
2 Cornichons or 1 medium dill pickle, chopped
1 clove garlic

Put ingredients in a bowl. Blend with hand stick blender or toss into a food processor. Hold cage match to determine who gets last serving, or go make more.

Possible ingredients for Clay Oven's dip: mayo, Indian spicy pickle (achaar), mint or mint chutney.