Baby Tartar Sauce

Is your little eater ready to explore bursting flavors? You may have already introduced fish to baby, and she might be ready to graduate to the next step. What’s better than freshly cooked homemade fish sticks? Fish sticks with homemade tartar sauce! This ultra-simple tartar sauce recipe goes perfectly with the homemade fish sticks recipe included below– so skip the frozen food aisle and get ready for a gourmet experience that baby is bound to love! 

This homemade tartar sauce is SUPER easy and will enlighten your little’s taste buds to another level. Paired with the best fish sticks your little one has ever tried, this recipe will be on the family's favorite list in no time! Keep in mind that this recipe calls for mayonnaise - which contains eggs and salt. It may be best to wait until baby is old enough to consume both items. As always, consult with your doctor if you are unsure!

Here’s what you’ll need for the Tartar Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise 
2 dill pickles, chopped
1/2 tablespoon of fresh dill, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Pinch of sugar
Pinch of black pepper
Optional: 1 spring onion, thinly sliced

How to make tartar sauce:

1. Add all of the above ingredients to the 1-Step Food Maker Deluxe. 
2. Press “Blend” for 30 seconds. Ensure consistency is aligned with baby’s needs (press and hold blend again if needed). 
3. Serve!

It’s that easy! This recipe is perfect for little eaters that love fish. It can also be a great spread on a piece of toast for an afternoon snack. Whichever way you prefer to use it, it will sure be a hit at home for all.

Is black pepper safe for babies?

Black pepper is completely harmless to babies, but it’s important to keep their sensitive palettes in mind. Although it may be safe to eat at a young age, it can still be spicy! If you’re worried about burning baby’s mouth, it’s completely fine to skip the black pepper in this homemade tartar sauce. However, we recommend adding just a dash to really send the flavors home. Always taste the food yourself first before serving a new recipe to your little one!

How long does homemade tartar sauce last?

While bottled tartar sauce is known to last for up to 6 months, using fresh ingredients yourself for a homemade tartar sauce should only be kept for 2-3 weeks. Always make sure to store the tartar sauce in an airtight container, and make as much use of it as you can with your fish sticks for baby recipe below!

How to make Homemade Fish Sticks!

Get ready to make and serve the best fish sticks your little one will ever have! These fish sticks can be pan fried or baked.

What you’ll need:
Your choice of a firm, white fish. You’ll need about 2 fillets for this recipe, cut into fingers sized pieces.
1/3 cup flour
1 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons parsley
1 teaspoon lemon
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/10 teaspoon black pepper
2 eggs
Olive oil

What you’ll do:

1. Pre-heat oven to 425F (bake). Pat fish dry. Place flour in a plate, and eggs in another. In a third plate, mix together bread crumbs, lemon, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper powder.
2. If baking: Prepare the baking tray by spraying oil across the surface and spread a thin layer of bread crumbs.
3. Coat fish sticks one by one in the following order - flour, eggs, and finally the breadcrumbs mixture. Shake to remove excess coating.
4. Place on a baking tray or pan.
5. Bake for 12-15 minutes, flipping half way through OR pan fry for 6-8 minutes until crispy.
6. Serve with Homemade Tartar Sauce!

Enjoy!

Is white fish healthy for babies?

We recommend keeping this homemade fish stick recipe to once or twice a week if you find your baby enjoys the dish. While cod, haddock, tilapia, and pollock are all completely safe for baby to eat and include healthy fats for their development and energy, it’s important to keep the risk of mercury exposure at a minimum. Serving these homemade fish sticks once or twice a week is completely fine and will not put you or your baby at risk of mercury poisoning.

How long do homemade fish sticks keep in the fridge?

Even the best fish sticks, like the ones from this recipe, should be eaten as soon as possible. If you have leftovers, we recommend eating them within 3 or 4 days, as cooked fish spoils more quickly than other types of protein. With how delicious this homemade fish sticks recipe is, you shouldn’t have any problem getting rid of them with your little one! And don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce, either!

Aisha is a Pakistani Canadian mother who found herself looking for ways to keep up with home cooking as a new mom of 3. She started her Instagram @baby.eatts to share simple and nutritious meals that she makes for her experienced eaters Zenya (8 years), and Aydin (6 years), and her new little eater, Amiri (6 months). With her recipes and tips, Aisha hopes to help other moms have a fun, easy, and fulfilling journey with their newest member at the dinner table.