ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

[tartar]

Dick's is a local favorite here in Seattle with cheap and tasty drive-in fare. One of their best features is their tartar sauce, which is not only used for dipping their hand-cut fries, but they also put it on the burgers themselves! So delish!! I would like to replicate this special sauce they've created. Does anyone have the recipe or a close variation of it? Dick's was recently named Most Life-Changing Burger Joint by Esquire magazine, which stated in their article that the tartar sauce is "made of mayonnaise and spiced pickle relish." But that's the only start I have. Can anyone help me out? Cheers!

[Engel]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Don't know about that place, but at our little drive-in, I used mayo, dill pickles (chopped fine), & finely chopped onion. I made it every day.

[Antilope]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

This subject was brought up some time ago (2007) on this website. Someone posted a tartar sauce recipe from Seattle, although the Drive-in was not mentioned.

Here's the link and recipe (I have not tried it):

http://www.copykatchat.com/recipe-requests/21760.htm#5

".....I was born and raised in Seattle, so I know what you mean about how wonderful Ivar's tartar sauce is. I was raised on tartar sauce and even though I know live here in the Houston, TX, area, I still ask for it for my fries instead of ketchup.

Anyways, I don't know if you ever received Ivar's Tartar sauce recipe, but I thought I'd share a recipe from the Frugal Gourmet's Jeff Smith. I have changed it just a bit, but my husband and I love it with our fish:

1 tsp Colman's dry mustard (we use regular hot dog mustard)
2 tsp cold water (only if using the dry mustard is this needed)
1/2 C Best Food's/Helmann's mayonnaise
3 Tbls sour cream
2 Tbls chopped parsley
1 small clove garlic; peeled and crushed (I use at least 1 Tbls of fresh, minced garlic)
2 Tbls chopped, fresh dill (from a jar works just as well.)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Fresh ground pepper to taste.

If using the dry mustard, mix it and the water together, then add the rest of the ingredients and stir until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 1/2 hour before using.

Its a great recipe for fish, but works well with veggies, too......."

[tartar]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Thank you for the reply. I did see this previous post, and although it's a nice tartar recipe, it's not the Dick's recipe. Dick's tartar sauce has a sweetness element to it. I'm hoping someone out there has experienced it and tried to replicate it. I know that I'll keep trying...

[Antilope]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Seattle chef and restaurateur Tom Douglas, in a 2005 episode of Food Network's "Iron Chef", beat Masaharu Morimoto. In 2003 he was kind enough to provide the Seattle Times newspaper this delicious, easy to make dipping sauce for seafood.

Parsley aioli
(Yields one cup)

This versatile herb-and-garlic flavored mayonnaise is good as a dipping sauce with fried seafood (move over tartar sauce). You could also serve it with prawns, salmon or tuna. Or use it on sandwiches or with artichokes or asparagus.

1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped garlic
1 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

Combine the egg, yolk, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar and garlic in a food processor. With the machine running, slowly pour the olive oil in a steady stream through the feed tube. The mixture will emulsify into a mayonnaise. Add the parsley and herbs and process to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes to cool and let set.

[Antilope]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

From Seattle's KOMO TV 4 website:

Salty’s Seafood Grills Tartar Sauce recipes

Sweet Pickle Tartar

1-Cup Mayonnaise
¼ Cup Sweet Pickles, Minced
1/8th Cup Sweet Onion, Minced
1 TB Worcestershire
2 Dashes Tabasco
½ Lemon, Juiced
1 TB Stone-Ground Mustard
¼ teaspoon Mustard Powder
1/8th teaspoon Celery Seed
1 TB Fresh Dill, Chopped
½ TB Fresh Thyme, Chopped
Dash White Pepper
Salt To Taste

1) Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour so flavors combine well.

Chef’s Favorite Tartar Sauce

1-Cup Mayonnaise
2 TB Dill Relish
2 TB Dill Cornichons, Chopped
1 TB Capers, Rinsed and Chopped
½ teaspoon Onion Granules or Powder
¼ teaspoon Garlic Granules or Powder
½ Lemon, Juiced
1 Tb Worcestershire
2 Dashes Tabasco
1 TB Fresh Dill, Chopped
1 TB Fresh Italian Parsley, Chopped
Pinch White Pepper
Salt to taste

1) Combine all ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour so flavors combine well.

Chef Jeremy’s Wicked Tartar

1-Cup Chef’s Favorite Tartar Sauce
½ TB Sambal Oelek Chili Paste (Find in Asian Isle at any Grocer)
½ teaspoon Siracha Hot Sauce
1 TB Mustard Stone-ground

1) Place all ingredients in a bowl and blend with a hand blender.

[tartar]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Thanks, Antilope! I'll give these additional recipes a try, too! But if anyone out there has the Dick's recipe, I'd still love to have it! Thanks!

[eatahorse]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Dick's special sauce is indeed made from mayonnaise (Nalley's) and pickle relish. The slight yellow color comes from the tumeric in the relish. I was able to replicate the sauce exactly once I learned where the pickles came from. They are not available in the pacific northwest and that is why it is difficult to knock-off the original recipe.

[AngID]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Love Dicks! This is the closest I've come to their recipe

Tartar Sauce

1 Cup Hellmans Mayo or another good quality mayo
2 Tablespoons of finely minced onion
2 Tablespoons of finely minced dill pickle
Fresh Lemon juice to taste

Mix it all together and serve...

(I use about 1/6th of a lemon)

[eatahorse]

Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

I have the recipe for Dick's tartar sauce. The secret is the pickle that you use. The mayo is Nalley's

[The Ranger]

[QUOTE=AngID;n649137]Re: ISO: Seattle's Dick's Drive-In Tartar Sauce

Love Dicks! This is the closest I've come to their recipe

Tartar Sauce

1 Cup Hellmans Mayo or another good quality mayo
2 Tablespoons of finely minced onion
2 Tablespoons of finely minced dill pickle
Fresh Lemon juice to taste

Mix it all together and serve...

(I use about 1/6th of a lemon)[/QUOTE]

Pretty close! If you want the yellowish color just add a dash of Turmeric powder.

[Mark A.]

From what I have read, Dick's once sourced their condiments from Nalley's Fine Foods in Tacoma, WA until the plant was purchased and mothballed. While I rarely see Nalley's Mayonnaise anymore (I use Banquet from Grocery Outlet,)
the key second ingredient is Nalley's Hot Dog (not hamburger) Relish. It seems to be a seasonal item, but I found it at a Wal-Mart. Approx. ratio: 2.5 parts mayo to 1 part relish (I go by memory of the color.) Given the speedy culture at
Dick's, I figured it was a simple recipe that didn't involve much.