When it comes to elevating a sandwich or salad, few condiments can compete with the bold, tangy flavor of Russian dressing. This creamy, zesty sauce has the versatility that makes it a staple in kitchens across the globe. While its name might suggest a connection to Eastern Europe, Russian dressing is actually an American creation. Today, it’s most famously known as a key component in the Reuben sandwich. However, its uses go far beyond that. Once you whip up a batch at home, you will be sold on this Russian Dressing recipe.
Origin of Russian Dressing
Despite its name, Russian dressing doesn’t hail from Moscow or St. Petersburg. It’s believed to have been invented in the United States by a man named James E. Colburn from Nashua, New Hampshire, around the early 1900s. The “Russian” moniker may have come from the inclusion of caviar in early versions, a nod to Russian cuisine. Over time, the recipe evolved, dropping the caviar but keeping its signature punchy flavor. What emerged was a blend of creamy, tangy and slightly sweet notes that perfectly complement hearty ingredients like rye bread, corned beef, or crisp greens.
Why Make It Yourself?
Sure, you can grab a bottle of Russian dressing off the supermarket shelf, but nothing beats the freshness and bold flavor you get from making it at home. Store-bought versions also lean heavily on preservatives or sugar, which can mask the vibrant flavors of the original. Plus, it’s incredibly simple—most of the ingredients are probably already in your pantry or fridge. This recipe was inspired by Zingerman’s Deli Russian dressing. However, I substituted the chili sauce with ketchup as explained below and added more horseradish. I feel this is a game-changer. Try it for yourself!
A Versatile Kitchen Staple
Russian dressing shines brightest when slathered on a Reuben with corned beef, with the crunch of sauerkraut and melted swiss cheese. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy that leftover corned beef from St. Patty’s Day. But don’t stop there! It’s equally fantastic as a dipping sauce for fries, a topping for a juicy burger, or a dressing for a crisp wedge salad. The balance of creaminess from mayonnaise, the kick of horseradish, and the subtle sweetness from ketchup makes it a crowd-pleaser for any occasion. And I promise this Russian salad dressing will be a memorable one everyone will love!
Russian Dressing Main Ingredients
- Mayonnaise– This is the base of this dressing so use a good quality mayo.
- Ketchup (without HFCS)- Many Russian dressing recipes have ketchup-style chili sauce in them which is what I used to use for making this dressing. I have recently dropped this and only stuck with ketchup. The reason is that almost ALL chili sauces have High fructose corn syrup in them which I try to avoid. I can usually find a “natural” ketchup without HFCS, so I just stick with that. Plus, its what most of us already have in our refrigerators anyway.
- Sour cream– If you don’t have sour cream you can just use the same amount in mayo, but I prefer sour cream for the best flavor here.
- Parsley– I prefer fresh parsley always for this dressing. In a crunch, use dried; it just will be lacking the wow factor of fresh.
- Onion– I like to grate onion for this recipe so it makes sort of an onion paste. This gives this the best flavor and texture in this case.
- Relish– Dicing up a dill pickle would be the most time-consuming part of this recipe. So if you happen to have a good dill relish on hand, use that!
- Pickle juice– You can skip this if you want. It’s just my little extra yum I like to add to this dressing.
- Lemon juice– Fresh lemon juice is great, but bottled is great as well.
- Horseradish– To me, this is one of the most important ingredients for a perfect Russian dressing. I personally do not use a “horseradish sauce” for this recipe. I prefer to use straight horseradish on the spicier side for a hint of heat added to the dressing.
- Worcestershire– This is a non negotiable in my opinion, for that perfect umami flavor. If you’re against this ingredient, a vegan Worcestershire sauce is always an option.
Russian Dressing Recipe: Best Tangy Condiment
Ingredients
- 1 cup real mayonnaise
- ½ cup ketchup (without HFCS)
- 2½ Tbsp. sour cream
- 2 Tbsp. parsley fresh, chopped, packed (or 2 tsp dried)
- 1-1½ Tbsp. horseradish
- 1½ Tbsp. sweet onion about 1/4 of a small onion
- 1½ Tbsp. dill pickle relish (or diced fine dill pickle)
- ½ Tbsp. pickle juice
- 1½ tsp. lemon juice
- 1½ tsp Worcestershire
- dash salt & pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl, whisk and ready to enjoy!
Comments are welcome & encouraged, however we have the right to refuse to publish it if it is hateful in nature and not constructive criticism. We ask that they be polite & stay on topic as well.