Not to be confused with Thousand Island, Russian salad dressing is a tad sweet with a tang from the vinegar and so very easy to make at home! This versatile dressing is wonderful on greens, but you haven't lived until you try it on a burger, Reuben sandwich, or a Crab Louie salad!
Super simple homemade Russian dressing that will up your salad game!
I’m the first one to admit that I don’t always have time to cook things from scratch. As much as I love and prefer making things to buying whatever I can, time is always a limiting factor.
So while I’m not likely to swear off boxed spaghetti pasta for making my own without a celebratory reason, I’m always looking for easy things to put my own spin on. Dressing is one of those things.
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Russian dressing doesn’t take a lot of effort and makes an incredibly flavorful condiment or salad finisher. Mayonnaise makes it creamy. Ketchup makes it slightly sweet, while red wine vinegar and yellow onion give it a delectable tang!
In my opinion, this is one recipe that’s worth skipping the dressing aisle for! It’s better than the store-bought stuff, and it’ll definitely earn you some chef points with dinner guests.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Cheap and Delicious! It’s an inexpensive and better-tasting alternative to premade dressing.
It's Versatile! Smear it on a burger, sandwich, or anything you like!
It's Fast and Easy! All it takes is 5 minutes and 2 steps for homemade dressing!
🥘 Ingredients
It’s a short list of ingredients you’re likely to already have in your pantry. Add some sriracha or cayenne if you want some extra spice.
- ½ cup Mayonnaise - Mayonnaise goes a long way in creating that fluffy, creamy texture everyone loves.
- ½ cup Ketchup - It seems unusual, but ketchup is a common ingredient in Russian dressing that gives it the signature color.
- 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar - This has a strong flavor that puts a little zing in the finished product.
- 1 tablespoon Yellow Onion - Finely chop this or grate it for smoothest dressing.
- 1 pinch each, Salt & Pepper - It doesn’t get much easier than this!
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
To prepare, get out a mixing bowl, a silicone whisk, and an airtight storage container. For a super fine consistency, use a food processor.
- Whisk. In a small mixing bowl, combine ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon grated yellow onion, and 1 pinch each of salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly until smooth.
- Store it safely. Transfer dressing to an airtight storage container or glass jar. Keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Russian dressing is, of course, great on salads, but it also makes a tasty sandwich condiment! If you love Ruebens as much as I do, they’re about to get a lot better. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- Eat quickly. Dressing will be good in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Don’t freeze! This dressing should not be frozen, as the ingredients will separate and throw off the texture.
- Store in a glass jar. Keeping dressing in a jar makes it easy to shake up when it’s been sitting and ingredients have separated. Just make sure it has a tight-fitting lid.
- Use a food processor. To get the smoothest dressing possible, blend ingredients in a food processor. Alternatively, squeeze onion juice into the mix with a lemon juicer instead of grating it.
🥗 More Tasty Salad Dressings!
- Catalina Dressing
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
- Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing (No Anchovies)
- Benihana Ginger Salad Dressing
❓ FAQ
In their traditional forms, Russian dressing is tangy and slightly spicy (sometimes with horseradish and chili peppers). Thousand island is sweet, often containing pickle relish. Catalina is more similar to Russian dressing but typically swaps oil for the mayonnaise making it slightly thinner.
The basis of dressing is a combination of fat and acid. Acid usually comes from vinegar but can also be citrus, most often lemon juice. Fat is most often seen in the form of oil or, in this case, mayonnaise.
📋 Recipe
Russian Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow onion (finely chopped or grated)
- 1 pinch each, salt & pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a small mixing bowl (mayo, ketchup, red wine vinegar, yellow onion, salt, and pepper). Whisk until smooth.½ cup mayonnaise, ½ cup ketchup, 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon yellow onion, 1 pinch each, salt & pepper
- Transfer to an airtight storage container and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- Use a food processor or blender to puree until smooth if desired, or use a lemon juicer to squeeze the onion juice for a super smooth dressing consistency.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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