Easy Russian Dressing Recipe

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

If you’ve eaten a Reuben sandwich, you know that creamy, tangy sauce that keeps you from inhaling it? Yes, it’s Russian dressing. It’s super easy to make at home, and a layer of it makes any sandwich undeniably delicious. It’s made with mayonnaise, ketchup, and a few other key acidic and salty ingredients that combine to make it absolutely addictive. Alex and I have a vegetarian Reuben sandwich recipe that’s one of those, and our new favorite is our Coleslaw & Swiss Reuben. How to make Russian dressing at home!

What is Russian dressing?

So what is Russian dressing? Russian dressing is an American salad dressing made with mayonnaise, ketchup, and a few other savory ingredients. It’s the main ingredient in a Reuben sandwich, for which it’s famous. Of course, as you might expect, there is nothing Russian about it! It was invented in America in the early 1900s.

Nowadays, Russian dressing has largely been replaced by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and less spicy. Alex and I don’t eat it as a salad dressing, but as a spread, which is common practice.

How to make Russian dressing

Russian dressing is easy to make at home: you might even already have some of these ingredients in your fridge! Simply combine mayonnaise and ketchup for the base of the dressing, then add some chopped shallots and dill pickles and a few squirts of hot sauce. While some Russian dressing recipes are spicier and call for horseradish, here we’ve opted to use only hot sauce. Use as much as you like (although we love spicy food, we don’t make our Russian dressing too spicy).

That’s it! You can use Russian Dressing instead of Thousand Islands as Russian Dressing. Or you can do what Alex and I do and use it as a spread! There are so many different sandwiches it would work well on: It would even add a super tangy touch that spills a bit into a quesadilla. Here are the sandwich recipes we used it for:

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

Alex and I are obsessed with the filling and flavorful 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 gives a Reuben or our new Swiss and Coleslaw sandwich its signature flavor and creaminess – and brings with it something absolutely nostalgic. In Alex’s words, it tastes like a Big Mac! While it’s not a “healthy” food, a little bit makes a big difference. A little hint can really improve the taste of a humble sandwich!

Related: Homemade Thousand Island Vinaigrette | Creamy avocado vinaigrette

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