This Homemade Russian Dressing Recipe is going to be your new favorite. It's creamy, tangy, sweet and spicy with a little bite from horseradish, chopped onions and pickles. This salad dressing makes any crisp lettuce shine, and instantly upgrades any sandwich or burger to star status. Bonus points it's easy and quick to make, both gluten and dairy-free. Dare I call it healthy since it is made with vegan yogurt instead of calorie heavy mayonaise?
What is Russian Dressing?
Despite the name, Russian Dressing is actually a very American condiment which seems to have originated in New Hampshire. It's a pink sauce that is usually a combination of mayonnaise and ketchup that is spiced up with things like Worcestershire sauce, horseradish or hot sauce. Some recipes include mustard, paprika, pickles or relish, chives or onions.
Typically Russian dressing is used on reuben sandwiches or as a dipping sauce for fries or chips, a topping for burgers etc. But it is also a very tasty dressing for salads, especially those which include crisp lettuces like romaine or iceberg wedge salads.
Why you'll love this Easy Homemade Russian Dressing
- It's mayo free! We use plain, plant-based yogurt as the base which makes this dressing lower in fat and calories than the classic.
- It comes together super quickly and it's easy enough for a beginner
- A great creamy alternative that is healthy and guilt free
- Less sweet than a thousand island dressing, this sauce has so many layers of flavor
- With onions, pickles and horseradish, this is a great dressing for salad lovers
Yogurt Tip
When choosing a plant-based yogurt for this dressing I like to use a nut based yogurt like almond or cashew yogurt. These are typically creamier than an oat yogurt or coconut, and usually are lump free. If nut allergy is the case, go for a soy yogurt if possible. One exception to this is I do like CocoJune brand coconut yogurt, it's creamy and the flavor of coconut isn't overpowering.
Russian Dressing Ingredients
Russian dressing has a couple of more ingredients than thousand island which is sweeter and more basic. Both horseradish and vegan Worcestershire can be harder to find than ketchup but check near the pickles at the market and you will find the horseradish. You can always order vegan Worcestershire from Amazon.
- Plain Vegan Yogurt: Super creamy and low calorie base of this dressing recipe
- Ketchup: I like to use a low sugar brand but use your favorite
- Vegan Worcestershire Sauce: Of course you can use regular as well
- Horseradish: Gives it a spicy bite
- Dijon Mustard: For a little tang
- Smoked Paprika: For color and smokiness
- Onions and Dill Pickles: Bringing flavor and texture to this sauce
Time saver tip: To save time, use 2 tbsp of pickle relish in place of the chopped pickles if you like. Also whether you use sweet pickles or dill pickles is up to you. I used dill pickles because I don't like sweet so much. Yo do you!
How to Make Homemade Russian Dressing
Dressing recipes make me giggle, because they are really so simple that they are hardly a true recipe. It's basically putting a bunch of ingredients in a bowl and mixing it. Simple, and so easy a toddler could practically do it!
- To a medium sized bowl or jar, add vegan yogurt (or mayo), ketchup, vegan worcestershire sauce, horseradish, chopped onion, smoked paprika and dijon mustard, dijon mustard, and chopped pickles if using. Mix until well combined
FAQs
Absolutely not. You can use vegan mayo or regular mayo, or Greek yogurt or regular plain yogurt. The sauce will still be delicious even if it is not a vegan dressing.
Yes, this is a great recipe for making ahead. It stays fresh for about 3-5 days when covered and refrigerated.
This sauce is amazing on Reuben sandwiches, panini sandwiches, burgers, wraps etc. It is also incredible on crispy lettuces like romaine, iceberg and those curly leaf baby green lettuces that are so popular. A side salad of lettuce tomato and cucumber would get an instant upgrade with this dressing recipe.
At first glance they look almost identical but the flavors are very different. Thousand island is sweet and tangy but Russian has more depth. Russian has the mustard, Worcestershire, onions and horseradish giving more layers of flavor.
Other Delicious Healthy Vegan Dressing Recipes
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Easy Homemade Russian Dressing (Vegan)
Ingredients
- 1 cup vegan yogurt or mayo
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp vegan worcestershire
- 1 tbsp horseradish
- 2 tbsp onion chopped
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp dijon mustard
- 2 small dill pickles chopped optional
Instructions
- To medium sized bowl or jar, add vegan yogurt (or mayo), ketchup, vegan worcestershire sauce, horseradish, chopped onion, smoked paprika and dijon mustard, dijon mustard, and chopped pickles if using. Mix until well combined
- Use for salads, burgers and sandwiches for up to 5 days for best quality and taste
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