Russian Dressing

By Dan Pelosi

Published June 12, 2025

Russian Dressing
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
10 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
5 minutes
Rating
5(77)
Comments
Read comments

Contrary to its name, Russian dressing was invented in New Hampshire in the early 1900’s and may have gotten its name because the original recipe included a staple of Russian cuisine: caviar. Often used as a dip or a salad dressing, it is perhaps best known as a spread on the iconic Reuben sandwich. Pink in color from a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise, it is frequently mistaken for its sweeter sibling, Thousand Island dressing, but Russian dressing is spicier thanks to the addition of horseradish. This recipe is flexible: Grating the onion releases more of its flavorful juices, but mincing works just fine. Swap the onion for shallot, if you like, or use smoked paprika instead of sweet. For an extra-spicy kick, add a dash of hot sauce.

  • or to save this recipe.

  • Subscriber benefit: Give recipes to anyone

    As a subscriber, you have 10 gift recipes to give each month. Anyone can view them - even nonsubscribers. Learn more.

    Subscribe

  • Share this recipe

  • Print this recipe

Advertisement

Ingredients

Yield:1¼ cups
  • ½cup mayonnaise
  • ¼cup plus 2 tablespoons ketchup 
  • 1tablespoon coarsely grated white or yellow onion 
  • 2tablespoons dill pickle relish (not sweet) 
  • 1tablespoon prepared horseradish, drained 
  • 1teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ½teaspoon sweet paprika
  • Salt, to taste
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2.5 servings)

381 calories; 36 grams fat; 5 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 9 grams monounsaturated fat; 21 grams polyunsaturated fat; 16 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 12 grams sugars; 1 gram protein; 760 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

Powered by

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust for seasonings. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Private Notes

Leave a Private Comment on this recipe and see it here.

Ratings

5 out of 5
77 user ratings
Your rating

or to rate this recipe.

Have you cooked this?

or to mark this recipe as cooked.

Comments

Vicki K

i've been tweaking russian dressing recipes for years. it was a favorite from my childhood and then seemed to disappear. using half sour cream, half mayo replicates the flavor I remember. I never use relish, if you want something "chunky" in it, olives or capers make more sense to me than dill

KayJ

My mother made the Russian one dressing at a restaurant where she worked for 25 years. This is almost exactly the recipe she shared with me. Thanks for the memories.

Peter Pan

Mix 60/40 ratio of mayo/ coctail sauce which already has horseradish as an ingredient. Add relish. Takes less than 1 minute. Pretty good and quick. No fuss no muss.

germanyman

Vibrated well in my Reuben sandwich. The first time I made a sauce here. I would say it was a success.

Rivertownie

You can skip the horseradish, worcestershire and paprika (or not), and mis into shredded purple cabbage. Layer it into a ham and swiss cheese sandwich, then grill in a pan until cheese melted. (A cast iron weight or panini grill is great for this. Amazing. My particular deli uses pastrami and turkey instead of my peasant version of just ham but no lovelost.

Mari

It’s a delicious sandwich. You don’t miss the meat at all.

Private comments are only visible to you.

Recipe Tags

or to save this recipe.