Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (2024)

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The key ingredient in a Reuben sandwich, this Russian dressing adds a creamy, savory pop to any sandwich. Here’s how to make Russian dressing.

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (1)

If you’ve had a Reuben sandwich, you know that creamy, savory sauce that makes you unable to stop inhaling it? Yes, that’s Russian dressing. It’s very easy to make at home, and a slather of it makes any sandwich undeniably delicious. It’s made of mayonnaise, ketchup, and a few other key tangy and savory ingredients that work together to make it altogether addicting. Alex and I have a vegetarian Reuben sandwich recipe that features it, and our new favorite is our Coleslaw & Swiss Reuben. Here’s how to make Russian dressing at home!

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (2)

What is Russian dressing?

So what is Russian dressing? Russian dressing is an American dressing made of mayonnaise, ketchup, and a few other savory ingredients. It’s the main condiment on a Reuben sandwich, which is its claim to fame. Of course as you might expect, there is nothing Russian about it! It was invented in the early 1900’s in America.

These days, Russian dressing has mostly been supplanted by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and not as spicy. Alex and I don’t eat it as a salad dressing, but instead use it as a sandwich spread, which is a common use for it.

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (3)

How to make Russian dressing

Russian dressing is very simple to whip up at home: you might even have some of these ingredients in your refrigerator already! Simply combine mayonnaise and ketchup for the dressing base, then stir in some minced shallot and dill pickles, and a few shakes of hot sauce. While some Russian dressing recipes are spicier and call for horseradish, we’ve chosen to simply use hot sauce here. Use as much as you like for your taste (though we love spicy food, we don’t make our Russian dressing too spicy).

That’s it! You can use Russian dressing as a Russian salad dressing instead of Thousand Island. Or you can do what Alex and I do and use it as a sandwich spread! There are so many different sandwiches it would work well on: it would even add a super savory flair spreading a little in a quesadilla. Here are the sandwich recipes we’ve used it on:

  • The Vegetarian Reuben
  • Swiss & Coleslaw Sandwich (The Rachel)

Alex and I are obsessed with the hearty, savory quality of savory sandwiches like the Reuben, which is why we created a vegetarian version of the sandwich that we make at home. This sauce in particular brings that signature tang and creaminess to a Reuben or our new Swiss & Coleslaw Sandwich — and brings in something it totally nostalgic. In Alex’s words, it makes it taste like a Big Mac! While it’s not a “healthy” food, a little bit of it goes a long way. Just a small hint can really amp up the flavors in a humble sandwich!

Related: Homemade Thousand Island Dressing | Creamy Avocado Dressing

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (4)

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This recipe is…

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. For vegan and plant-based, use vegan mayo.

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Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (5)

Russian Dressing Recipe

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  • Author: Sonja
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: About ¾ cup 1x
Print Recipe

Description

The key ingredient in a Reuben sandwich, this Russian dressing adds a creamy, savory pop to any sandwich. Here’s how to make Russian dressing.

Ingredients

Scale

  • ¼ cup finely chopped shallot
  • ¼ cup finely chopped dill pickles
  • ¼ cup organic ketchup
  • ½ cup mayonnaise (vegan, as necessary)
  • A few dashes hot sauce, to taste

Instructions

Mince the shallot and the dill pickles. Stir them together with the ketchup and mayonnaise. Add hot sauce to taste. Store refrigerated for several months.

  • Category: Sauces
  • Method: Mixed
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Russian dressing, Russian salad dressing, What is russian dressing, How to make russian dressing, Reuben sandwich sauce, Sauces

vegan vegetarian gluten free

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Cooking Basics
  • Recipes

Tagged with:

  • Dairy-Free
  • Dressing
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Hot Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • Plant-Based
  • Reuben
  • Russian
  • Sandwiches
  • Sauce
  • Shallot
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes

About the authors

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (6)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

Easy Russian Dressing Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Russian salad dressing made of? ›

Typically piquant, it is today characteristically made of a blend of mayonnaise and ketchup complemented with such additional ingredients as horseradish, pimentos, chives, mustard, and spices.

What is a good substitute for Russian dressing? ›

What can be substituted for Russian dressing? Thousand Island dressing is the perfect substitute for Russian dressing, as they are very similar. Store-bought or homemade Thousand Island will work just fine.

What is the difference between 1000 island and Russian dressing? ›

The ingredient that differentiates Russian dressing from Thousand Island is—drumroll, please—horseradish. When you have Russian dressing accenting a hearty sandwich like a Reuben, the horseradish can be hard to detect, especially when you've got the sharp, funky flavors of sauerkraut to contend with.

What is Ken's Russian dressing? ›

Ken's Deluxe Russian Dressing is a creamy, full-bodied delight. The perfect blend of sweet ketchup, mayonnaise, and relish with mild spicy notes from chili sauce and red bell pepper. A flavor-forward Russian dressing with sweetness and tang.

Does Russian dressing still exist? ›

An ideal dressing for sandwiches, Wish-Bone Russian dressing also acts as a perfect complement to salads or fresh vegetables. A 15 fluid ounce squeeze salad dressing bottle makes it easy to dispense the perfect amount.

Where is Russian dressing made? ›

Russian dressing typically is served with corned beef, Swiss and sauerkraut on a Reuben sandwich. The mayo and ketchup concoction – often dressed up with horseradish and spices – was created in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Can you use mayo in place of Miracle Whip? ›

Edwards notes that while you can "almost always" use mayonnaise and Miracle Whip interchangeably, you might notice a difference in flavor of the finished product. “Baking is the one exception where you should opt for mayonnaise rather than Miracle Whip, as the full-fat content is needed there,” Edwards says.

Why is Russian dressing called Thousand Island? ›

It was most likely invented by Sophia LaLonde and named for the Thousand Islands region between northern New York and southern Ontario, Canada. Per Eater, Russian dressing might be getting phased out—at least the name is. Whether people use one recipe or another, they tend to dub it Thousand Island to avoid confusion.

Are Catalina and Russian dressing the same? ›

While the two dressings share many of the same core ingredients, they are not identical. Both Catalina Dressing and Russian dressing contain Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and paprika. This combination of ingredients gives both dressings their sweet and savory tangy flavor.

Is French dressing Russian dressing? ›

A French dressing is rooted in oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, ketchup, minced shallot or garlic, sugar, and paprika. On the other hand, the Russian dressing mainly comprises mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, minced onion, pickle horseradish, and paprika.

What does Russian dressing taste like? ›

In all seriousness, it's pleasantly creamy with light tomato overtones and a slight kick from the horseradish. Of course, different recipes will yield different flavors. Keep in mind that some Russian dressing contains hot sauce and additional spicy ingredients.

Is a Reuben Thousand Island or Russian? ›

Sauce - A traditional Reuben sandwich uses creamy Russian dressing for the sauce, but Thousand Island dressing is another popular option that tastes really similar, albeit slightly sweeter with a bit less kick than Russian dressing.

Is Kraft making Russian dressing? ›

Kraft Russian Dressing is made with a rich creamy texture and a delicious sweet tomato tang that is sure to please. Incredibly versatile, you can use Kraft Russian Dressing to top your favourite salads, as a marinade for chicken, or as a dip for vegetables such as carrots or broccoli – the possibilities are endless!

What are the ingredients in Kens Russian dressing? ›

Soybean Oil, Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Sweet Pickle Relish (Cucumber, Spices [Including Celery Seed], Red Bell Pepper, Turmeric), Water, Egg Yolk, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Mustard Flour, Onion,* Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Sorbate (Preservatives), Propylene Glycol Alginate, ...

What is Olive Garden's dressing called? ›

Bhofack2/Getty Images. Olive Garden has two versions of its salad dressing: signature Italian and Light Italian. The signature Italian is a vinaigrette, but instead of olive oil and balsamic vinegar as you might expect, it's made with soybean oil and distilled vinegar.

Is California French dressing the same as Russian dressing? ›

A French dressing is rooted in oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, ketchup, minced shallot or garlic, sugar, and paprika. On the other hand, the Russian dressing mainly comprises mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, minced onion, pickle horseradish, and paprika.

Is Catalina and Russian dressing the same? ›

While the two dressings share many of the same core ingredients, they are not identical. Both Catalina Dressing and Russian dressing contain Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and paprika. This combination of ingredients gives both dressings their sweet and savory tangy flavor.

What is the difference between French dressing and Russian dressing? ›

French dressing, while also reddish in color from ketchup and paprika, is more of a traditional vinaigrette with a base of oil and vinegar. Russian dressing is spicier and more piquant thanks to the addition of chili sauce, horseradish, and hot sauce.

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