Homemade Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben - Lauren's Latest (2024)

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This Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben sandwiches is creamy, tangy and slightly spicy with a mild kick of horseradish. It really is the perfect condiment for a Reuben Sandwich and more!

Homemade Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben - Lauren's Latest (1)

Ok, What is Russian Dressing?

Russian dressing is a salad dressing that has a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor. It is made with a base of mayonnaise, horseradish, shallots, paprika, chili garlic sauce, and Worcestershire sauce…a perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors! It’s a versatile condiment that is great on a Reuben sandwich, on salads, as a dip for veggies, crab cakes or chicken wings. The possibilities are endless with this dressing!

Russian Dressing vs Thousand Island Dressing

Thousand Island dressing vs Russian salad dressing…they do have some similar ingredients and are both often used on Reuben Sandwiches. The addition of horseradish and chili garlic sauce (or cayenne pepper or hot sauce) give Russian dressing a unique, spicier flavor profile that sets it apart from Thousand Island dressing. Thousand Island dressing is typically sweeter and has a slightly tangy flavor from the sweet pickle relish.

Russian Dressing vs French Dressing

When comparing Russian dressing vs French dressing, French dressing is made with oil, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, onion, & spices, plus mayonnaise. The taste is a sweet and tangy tomato flavor. Russian dressing is very similar in taste with the addition of horseradish and spicy chili garlic sauce, hot sauce or cayenne pepper.

Catalina dressing vs French dressing…Catalina is considered a French salad dressing with the biggest difference being it is a thinner dressing and brighter red in coloring because of the increase in the amount of ketchup used.

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How To Make Russian Dressing

For full recipe details, see the printable recipe card down below. Here is what you can expect when making this recipe:

Combine Dressing Ingredients

In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce, prepared horseradish, minced shallot, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and salt/pepper. Whip together until smooth. Place in the fridge until ready to use.

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Make Ahead + Storing Russian Dressing

You can make this creamy Russian Dressing a day or two ahead of when you want to use it. Store dressing in an airtight container and in the fridge for up to 1-2 weeks. I don’t recommend freezing this dressing because it has mayonnaise. Freezing would change the texture to grainy and separate…aka not be very good.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Russian dressing need to be refrigerated?

Yes. Always cover your Russian dressing and store in the fridge. Doing so will maintain the quality taste of the dressing.

What else can I use this Russian dressing on?

So many things! The first is of course a Reuben Sandwich! Other ideas for your Russian dressing are crab cakes, fries, salads, burgers and chicken!

More Dressing Recipes to Try!

  • Remoulade Sauce
  • Tartar Sauce
  • Caesar Avocado Dressing
  • Homemade Coleslaw Dressing
  • High Protein Ranch Dressing
  • Charred Tomatillo Dressing
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The printable recipe card is below. Be sure to save, print, bookmark or share this recipe! Have a great day, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you wouldgive it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.

Homemade Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben - Lauren's Latest (5)

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Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben

This Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben sandwiches is creamy, tangy and slightly spicy…the perfect condiment for a Reuben Sandwich and more!

servings 4

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a small bowl, combinelemon juice, mayonnaise, chili garlic sauce, prepared horseradish, minced shallot, Worcestershire sauce, paprikaandsalt/pepper. Whip together until smooth. Place in the fridge until ready to use.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 382mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 81IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: Irish, Russian

Keyword: Russian Dressing

How to Make Reuben Sandwiches

For full recipe details, including ingredients needed and measuremaents, see the printable recipe card down below. This is an easy recipe, but here is step by step what you can expect when making a Reuben Sandwich with Homemade Russian Dressing (aka Reuben sauce recipe!):

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Preheat Large Skillet

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Assemble the Corned Beef Sandwiches

Butter one side of each slice of bread (just on the outside of the bread). Spread Russian dressing on the other side of both slices of light or dark Rye bread. Evenly divide and layer slices of Swiss cheese, corned beef and tangy sauerkraut on four of the slices of Rye bread on top of the Russian dressing. Top with other four pieces of bread, butter side out.

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Grill the Sandwiches

Place each sandwich in pan and grill until golden brown and cheese begins to melt…about 4 minutes. Flip over and brown other side another 3-4 minutes, keeping an eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

Note: If you have a Panini Press, that would also work great for grilling a reuben sandwich.

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Serve!

Remove from heat, cut sandwiches in half and serve with potato chips and dill pickles on the side! French fries or potato salad would also be great side dishes to this grilled sandwich.

The flavor of the caraway seeds in the Rye bread and the delicious corned beef, tart sauerkraut, melted Swiss cheese and of course the tangy dressing are what make this classic sandwich such a super star in restaurants everywhere. Now you can have it in your own kitchen!!

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Homemade Russian Dressing Recipe for Reuben - Lauren's Latest (2024)

FAQs

What is reuben dressing made of? ›

Russian Dressing
  • ½ cup mayonnaise.
  • ¼ cup ketchup.
  • 1 Tablespoon grated onion.
  • 1 Tablespoon horseradish.
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce.
  • 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce.
  • ½ teaspoon paprika.
  • Salt and pepper, to taste.
Mar 20, 2023

What is Russian dressing now called? ›

In the United States, Russian dressing has largely been supplanted by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and less spicy than Russian. Other combinations of mayonnaise and ketchup, but without the spicy ingredients, are known as fry sauce or other names, and typically served with French fries or tostones.

What is the difference between Ken's Russian dressing and Thousand Island? ›

Both are Russian dressings, but Ken's uses mayonnaise, so it's creamier. Russian dressing is often described as a spicier thousand Island without the pickles. Ken's version fits that description better.

Which of the following might one find as the two main ingredients in Russian dressing? ›

Russian dressing is a condiment made from mayonnaise and ketchup-style chili sauce or ketchup and, depending on the recipe, a variety of other ingredients, like Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, and paprika.

Can you buy Reuben dressing? ›

To date, Villamonte's Cuisine is the only known manufacturer of a Reuben Dressing. The origin of the Reuben Sandwich has been documented as invented in the Blackstone district in Omaha Nebraska. Now you can make the best Reuben by following our recipe using our dressing.

Is a reuben Thousand Island or Russian? ›

The Reuben sandwich is a traditional American grilled sandwich made with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread. While Russian dressing is the time-honored dressing of choice, it is extremely common to find thousand island dressing being used as well.

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. Adds big-time taste to any house salad, signature salad, or Reuben sandwich.

Is Thousand Island dressing considered Russian dressing? ›

While there are a lot of overlapping ingredients, there are also some key differences between these two iconic slathers. To start, both are mostly made from a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, but generally, Russian dressing is a little spicy while Thousand Island tends to be on the sweeter side.

Does Kraft make Russian dressing? ›

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!

Is Catalina dressing the same as Russian? ›

Russian dressing typically contains mayonnaise and horseradish. Together, these two ingredients give Russian dressing a much more decadent creaminess than Catalina Dressing. In contrast, Catalina Dressing contains vegetable oil and vinegar, which thin the dressing and make it less rich and more pourable.

What is Thousand Island dressing called in Germany? ›

In Germany, a similar salad dressing is called "American dressing".

Is creamy French the same as Thousand Island dressing? ›

Lighter Texture: Unlike the creaminess of Thousand Island dressing, French dressing has a lighter, more pourable consistency. This makes it ideal for drizzling over salads, offering an even distribution of flavor without overwhelming the greens. Customization: French dressing is open to creative customization.

Why can't I find Russian dressing anymore? ›

Russian Dressing is not that popular anymore, having been replaced by the more consumer-friendly Thousand Island dressing instead. However, the sweet-spicy flavors of Russian Dressing are still worth making yourself, as you probably won't be able to find it elsewhere.

What's a good substitute for Russian dressing? ›

I later found out that Russian Dressing, not the creamy kind you get on Rueben sandwiches, is a very close cousin of Catalina Salad Dressing. Russian Dressing is sometimes difficult to find, so if you love Russian Dressing, try this Homemade Catalina Salad Dressing instead.

What are Russian common ingredients? ›

Cabbage, potatoes, and cold-tolerant greens are common in Russian and other Eastern European cuisines. Pickling cabbage (sauerkraut), cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables in brine is used to preserve vegetables for winter use. Pickled apples and some other fruit also used to be widely popular.

What is a traditional Reuben made of? ›

A traditional reuben sandwich consists of thinly sliced corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on rye bread slathered with Russian or Thousand Island dressing.

How unhealthy is a Reuben sandwich? ›

About the Reuben

Unfortunately, this traditional sandwich is NOT one that I consider "heart healthy" as it provides approximately 800 calories, 50 grams fat, 20 grams of the artery-clogging saturated fat, 40 grams carbohydrates, 36 grams protein, and a whopping 3200 mg.

What is a dirty Reuben sandwich? ›

Dirty Reuben: Roast Beef, Dirty Dressing, Purple Slaw, America (I added Mozzarella Sticks & Avocado) #AvailableAtEveryLocation #Ikes...

What is a good substitute for Reuben cheese? ›

Provolone is just about the only other cheese I think would taste acceptable on a reuben. Apparently there is a dip recipe called Reuben dip that uses both cheddar and Swiss. It's really up to you.

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