Chive sauce is traditionally served with apple horseradish as a side dish with Tafelspitz (Austrian prime boiled beef) and roasted potatoes (Erdäpfelschmarrn).
Furthermore, it pairs well with charcuterie boards, raw vegetable boards, grilled and cooked meats of all kinds, fish (especially salmon or smoked haddock), wraps, potatoes, and stuffed puff pastry strudel.
Learn in the following recipe how to prepare this authentic Austrian chive sauce easily and quickly at home.
Why will you love this mustard chive sauce?
This chive sauce is wonderfully creamy and refreshing with a distinctive chive flavor. Thanks to the quick preparation, it is always quickly at hand and can be combined with a decidedly large number of dishes.
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🥘 Ingredients
- 7.05 oz (200 g) Crème Fraîche 15 % Fat
- 1 tablespoon Mustard (e.g. Tarragon, Grill, or Dijon mustard)
- Salt to season to taste
- ½ Bunch of Fresh Chives
Fresh, dried, or frozen chives?
Always use a fresh chive. A dried chive will never develop the flavor as a fresh chive and tends to appear woody and bland in this sauce.
Frozen chive works quite well after thawing. I had also used it several times when I had no fresh at hand.
Chives vs. Garlic Chives
The main difference between garlic chives and chives — also called onion chives — is the flavor, which is also the difference that will be a priority for most people. Garlic chives have a garlic flavor; similarly, chives have an onion flavor. The garlic chives flavor and aroma is quite strong, but the flavor of chives is known for being a particularly subtle version of the onion taste.
The bulb of the garlic chive plant is fibrous and inedible; usually, only the green tops get used. In comparison, the entire stalk of the chive plant is edible.
The edible green part of garlic chives is flat like blades of grass. Chives stalks are hollow like the green parts of scallions stalks.
Source: Spiceography.com
🍽 Equipment
- Cutting board
- One Tablespoon
- Small Bowl
- Kitchen Knife
🔪 Instructions
Prepare this chive sauce in a few simple steps.
First, wash half a bunch of chives and chop them.
Put the creme fraiche in a small bowl, add a tablespoon of mustard. Then it's the chives' turn. Add the chopped chives. Stir the sauce and mix the ingredients until the mustard blends well with the creme fraiche and chives.
Season to taste with salt, and that's it. Your delicious creamy mustard chive sauce, prepared in minutes, is ready!
Delicious! I love such quick recipes! 😍
📖 Variations
If you find the chive sauce with crème fraîche only too creamy, you can quickly remedy the situation. Instead of 7.05 oz (200 g) of crème fraîche, use only 3.53 oz (100 g) and add another 3.53 oz (100 g) of natural yogurt.
This change makes the chive sauce a little more liquid, but also tangier in flavor. I call this the "summer version." Very trendy is this version for grilling at my family home.
More substitutes for Creme Fraiche - What can you use instead?
- Greek Yogurt
- Soy-Based sour cream
- Sour Cream
- Ricotta
🙋🏻 FAQ
What are chives?
Chives are a herb that's related to onions and garlic with long green stems and a mild, not-too-pungent flavor. Typically used fresh, and most often (although not always) as a garnish, they add a bright color and oniony flavor to soups, dressings, and dips, along with many egg and potato-based dishes. They're easy to grow, easy to find, and easy to use.
Source: the spruce Eats
What are the health benefits of chives?
Chives are a nutrient-dense food. This means that they are low in calories but high in beneficial nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
That said, to get a significant amount of these nutrients, a person would have to eat a large quantity of chives. Instead, people often use chives as a garnish. A common serving is about 1 tablespoon (tbsp), or 3 grams.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)Trusted Source, 1 tablespoon of chopped chives provides the following nutrients:
- energy: 0.9 calories
- vitamin K: 6.38 micrograms (mcg), or 5% of the Daily Value (DV)
- vitamin C: 1.74 milligrams (mg), or 2% of the DV
- folate: 3.15 mcg, or 1% of the DV
- vitamin A: 6.43 mcg, or 1% of the DV
- calcium: 2.76 mg, or less than 1% of the DV
- potassium: 8.88 mg, or less than 1% of the DV
Source: MedicalNewsToday
How to store chives?
Store chives in the fridge. If you need them to last longer than a few days, wrap them with a damp paper towel and put them into a freezer bag. If you know you won't finish the bunch within two weeks, freeze them instead.
Source: doesitgobad.com
📖 Recipe
Chive Sauce
Ingredients
- 200 g Crème Fraîche 15 % Fat
- 1 tablespoon Mustard Tarragon, Grill, or Dijon mustard
- Pinch Salt Or season to taste
- ½ bunch Fresh chives
Instructions
- First, wash the chives and chop them.
- Put the crème fraîche in a small bowl, add a tablespoon of mustard.
- Add the chopped chives.
- Stir the sauce and mix the ingredients until the mustard blends well with the crème fraîche and chives. Season to taste with salt.
Notes
Variation
If you find the chive sauce with crème fraîche only too creamy, you can quickly remedy the situation. Instead of 7.05 oz (200 g) of crème fraîche, use only 3.53 oz (100 g) and add another 3.53 oz (100 g) of natural yogurt. This change makes the chive sauce a little more liquid, but also tangier in flavor. I call this the "summer version." Very trendy is this version for grilling at my family home.Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
⛑ Food Safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Anaiah
I made this recipe using sour cream and it tasted amazing! The chive sauce was so delicious on baked potatoes and great for dipping other veggies in. I'm going to try it with puff pastry next.
Gloria
I have a little herb garden, and love growing chives. This is the perfect sauce for baked potatoes. I would even use it on a sandwich.
AISilva
How can you go wrong with a delicious sauce in 5 minutes! Love the background information on chives too. Thanks for this great recipe!
Nora
Thank you so much!
Oscar
I made this chive sauce and added it to a charcuterie board for my partners birthday. Everyone was dipping into it, I had to make more. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Nora
That is so good to hear! Thank you so much!
Toni
I love it!! It was so easy to make and tastes so good!!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/
Chive is the one herb I am not growing in my garden, and I don't even know why🙄 I definitely must buy a small pot for this summer and get seeds or be more prepared next year. This sauce sounds so good; I see clearly what I'm missing on!
Nora
And the beauty is that chives are such a grateful plant that does not require much care!
Mihaela | https://theworldisanoyster.com/
Yep, got a little po|t; it's in the herbs corner:)
Natalie
This sauce looks so creamy and full of flavor. I can't wait to gve it a try. Lovely recipe.
Nora
Thank you! Let me know how you liked it!
Audrey
This was so easy to make!
Nora
Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. 🙂
Freya
This was so delicious and went perfectly with fish too!
Nora
Thank you so much! I'm glad that you enjoyed it!
Jeri
I made this delicious sauce when I cooked baked potatoes and grilled salmon for supper. I also had a raw vegetable platter, and this sauce was perfect with everything! I was so happy to find a recipe that used up some of my chives!
Elizabeth
What a great recipe! I’ve never had chive sauce before but I will definitely be making it again!
Addie
Super easy and so flavorful!
Linda
I love how simple this sauce is but it delivers an amazing result! Love pairing this with fried fish and grilled chicken, too
Chef Dennis
I made this for dinner last night and it was a big hit with my family!
Scout
This and everything that goes with it sounds divine! I've got to try it 🙂
Addie
It’s so smooth and creamy!!
Sara
This chive sauce is so delicious! I love to use it as a topping for baked or roasted potatoes, and it also makes a wonderful dip for veggies!
Nora
Thank you so much Sara!
KRistina
I used the sauce to dip breaded chicken after air frying it. It was delicious, especially warmed up in the micro a little bit. I bet it would be great mixed into a rice casserole too.
Nora
Yea, this pairs very well with chicken! I am so happy you've enjoyed it!
Marcellina
Such a delicious recipe! This chive sauce was perfect as a dip with vegetable sticks as you suggested. I served it to my guests on the weekend and they all loved it.
AISilva
This homemade chive sauce looks so good, I can't wait to try it soon with my beef dish this week. Thank you!
Jerika
It's a good alternative version of a healthy and yummy dipping sauce. I would definitely try this homemade chive sauce with my kids as their dip sauce for their fries.:) Thanks for the recipe Nora.:)
Nora
Thank you so much Jerika!