Everything I Know about Russian Dressing
82
Trip Down Memory Lane
My recent adventure into the facts, fictions, and personal warm memories of Russian dressing began a few months ago in the grocery store while I was buying "fruit on the bottom" yogurt. I quickly found what I was looking for and collected two small containers to put in the cart. In an instant, some unknown collection of brain cells flashed me back to my school days, and I stood motionless in the grocery aisle, a container of yogurt in each hand.
In those years, my favorite lunch was blueberry "fruit on the bottom" yogurt, a small garden salad drowning in Russian dressing, and a cup of coffee. My favorite dinner out was a cheeseburger, a lettuce wedge likewise drowning, and again the cup of coffee. Any dinner at home always included a garden salad drowning once more in delectable Russian dressing, this time home-made by my mother.
There I was in the grocery store, holding two yogurts, staring off into nowhere, and a pressing urge hit me, worse than having to pee...I absolutely had to find a bottle of Russian dressing. Right then and there.
Dressing Gone Missing
There was no Russian dressing in the store. Not one salad dressing brand of the 15 or so on the shelves offered this object of my immense desire. No problem, I thought. I'll go down the road to the other store. No luck. Over the next few weeks I called everyone I knew and asked them if they had seen Russian dressing anywhere in their grocery shopping travels. Apparently, the dressing had gone missing, or worse.
The Search Is On
Time to hit the Internet.
Russian dressing, I soon discovered, has been around since the early 1900s. It was a mainstay not only of my centric life, but of the Russian Tea Room in New York, Rombauer's Joy of Cooking, and even Larousse Gastronomique. How can such a noble tradition fade into oblivion?
Once past the history, I found an exciting clue on a web page called See the WORLD'S OLDEST Salad Dressing. The page featured a bottle of Seven Seas Russian Dressing. There I learned that Seven Seas is a Kraft brand. I went to Kraft's website and started searching using their product locator. No luck. Then I sent Kraft a hopeful inquiry using their "Other Contacts Form". My message was returned as "undeliverable". Geeze.
That pressing urge I felt in the grocery store had settled in to a dull ache. Since I couldn't find any bottled Russian dressing, it was time to call Mom.
Mom to the Rescue?
"Mom, remember that Russian dressing you used to make when we lived on Taylor Avenue?"
"Sort of," she said.
"How did you make it? I know it had ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, vinegar, milk, and sugar in it. But I don't remember in what proportions."
"I don't either," she said.
"Aw, come on," I said. "You made that dressing every day I was in high school and college."
"It was a snap to make," she said.
"So," I said, "How did you make it?"
"I guess you put all those things you said together and mix it up," she said. "And make sure you use sweet pickles, not sour ones."
That's exactly how she made it. She never measured ingredients then, just as she never measures them now. What was I thinking?
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I Make My Memory
A few jars of mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles later, here's what works for me. It's a thick, piquant dressing and makes four to six servings.
In a small bowl, add these ingredients one at a time, mixing well before adding the next:
- 3 mounded Tablespoons Miracle Whip salad dressing (if you want a thinner dressing, add a little milk now and beat it in well)
- 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon sweet pickle (gherkin) juice from the jar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 mounded Tablespoons ketchup
Blend in:
- 3 little sweet pickles (gherkins) minced finely
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cover and refrigerate.
My recipe has been taste-tested by my daughter, who loves it. I have yet to share it with Mom.
If you have any information regarding the bottled Russian dressing gone missing, please comment!
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Comments
It's good... it's great... it's... MOMTASTIC! I did love that dressing, much more than the deli-bought one. Not nearly as much as I love you, but it's up there. Ma's voice is clear in my head... "You just mix them up!" Of course you mix them up, Ma!
I think this new hubbing habit of yours is great, both for you and for anyone lucky enough to stumble across what you're writing. Here's to many more!
You are so right, Zsuzsy. My mother's family is from Poland. They are wonderful old-school cooks. Not one of them measures a thing! Like I said, what was I thinking???? Thanks so much for the good words.
annemaeve, can't wait to see your first hub. You rock, girl! (I think we need to get Ma hubbing.)
Oh man, I hope Russian dressing is still available here. I love it. But if not, I can try your homemade recipe. It sounds delicious. And I love the background information as well. Probably most of the best recipes are "a little of this and a little of that".
This Russian dressing recipe has invaded my workplace... and it's a huge hit! I had planned to enjoy my iceberg lettuce, home-baked chicken, and grape salad all by my lonesome, but when I popped open my Tupperware full of Russian dressing, people started gathering around asking... "what's that?" Before I knew it, we were all dissecting my salad with our fingers and dunking each bite in creamy, tangy deliciousness. Russian tops ranch as a dipping sauce any day! Now, if only Sally's Trove would post the recipe for that baked chicken...
And what did the horses think about the Russian dressing, annemaeve? Thanks so much for the good words! One baked chicken recipe coming up.
UPDATE! I found a bottle of Ken's Steakhouse Russian dressing in my local Giant supermarket. Not only did I find it there, but I found a great review of it at http://www.epinions.com/content_417655066244?linki . I haven't tried the Ken's yet, but maybe you will, and let us know what you think about mine and Ken's.
My cardiologist says if it looks, tastes, or sounds good you can't have it. Well if you don't tell I won't. I had not realized the slipping away of the wonderful Russian dressing. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks also for your kind comments on my recycling hub page. I really appreciate the info about the links. I have fixed them, it was a newbie mistake.
Since I sense a kindred spirit I will be looking for and reading your hubs. I do want you to know that you are couple ahead of me but I am on your heals with 4 so far. My wonderful wife says that when I disappear into my computer I come back a little more cheerful. My theory is that I can find folks like yourself and that is where I like to spend my time. Thanks again. NEIL
Neil, thanks for your wonderful words.
Fettuccini Alfredo, one of my favorite dishes, has another name which is "heart attack on a plate". So, since I'm not telling, you better not either!
Mmmm, so good on a wedge of iceburg lettuce! =)
"Mmmm" is right, Blogger Mom. In recent years iceburg lettuce has taken some bad press, being called "tasteless" and "bland". It has become the less-desired variety of salad greens, while the more exotic leaf lettuces dominate the market. As far as I'm concerned, iceburg has an unmistakably delicious flavor, a superior snappy texture, and you can shred the heck out of it so it blends nicely with Mexican cuisine. :)
Hear hear. Exotic greens are weird rabbit food. Iceberg is the way to go! I want to see someone try to make a lettuce bowl out of chickory. Ain't happenin'!
wow..great hub....how do you drawme like that using condiments! good job
funnebone, I'm just crazy about you and your work. But sometimes I guess I don't understand, or I don't speak your language...what is "how do you drawme like that using condiments" ? Do you mean that the pic up on the right looks like you as an underwear model? (omg) :)
I think sometimes there are boiled eggs added ? is that correct or is that not really Russian dressing? I made this and it is good, I added lots of pepper for kick -- then I tried a version with the chopped/mashed up boiled egg and it was good, but I was wondering which version is authentic?
I want the baked chicken recipe too S. !! =) Marisue
HaHa about the baked chicken! I need to get annemaeve together with a camera and a chicken one afternoon in order to finish up the hub for it that I have in the works. It absolutely will not be possible for me to take pictures and prepare the chicken at the same time, since prep requires that your hands get really messed up.
Follow that link up at the top, "Russian dressing" under "The Search Is On" for a history. Although the origin of the dressing isn't known, it is fairly certain that the earliest versions contained mayonaise and caviar. As for the eggs, I have never heard of chopping up eggs into the dressing. Which did you like better, with or without egg?
Ahhhh you've done it again ST--no wonder I am your loyal fan:-) Haven't thought about Russian dressing in years but now I have a recipe I'm gonna make some.....or maybe I'll just hie myself over to Giant and get some Ken's. Either way, my all time personal fav is "turkey on rye with cole slaw and russian dreessing" followed closely by russian dressing on a big chef's salad......and just for nostalgia I may make myself a "hearts of lettuce"salad with iceberg lettuce and you know what. Thanks to you and your mom for another great hub.
Robie, your comments are so cool. Yes, yes, YES to the turkey on rye with cole slaw and Russian dreessing! It gives you two opportunities to eat mayonnaise on the same sandwich. I love that combination!
My daughter and I did try the Ken's and, well, let's just say we like mine better. It's so easy to make. Just double the batch so you have enough for all the foods you want to pour it on this week.
Your fan, ST.
Well, each had a great taste...I'm not a big fan of boiled eggs but it worked in the dressing. I have to say tho...i think I liked it without best.
Can I add a link to your Russian Dressing recipe in a HUB I'm about to publish?? let me know I'm online but you can email me too either way....Marisue =)
OK--home made it is then--bye bye weightwatchers:-)
marisue, thanks for your thoughts on with egg or without egg. And, I would be honored if you would link to my hub. Please do.
Robie, I have good news for you. You can have the Russian dressing, just eliminate the sugar or use a substitute, and treat the dressing as low-fat mayonnaise in your food plan. Granted, you won't be allowed a large portion with this recipe. However, you can thin the dressing with skim milk to make it go a little farther!
marisue, thank you for linking to my hub. Now my hub links to yours. :)
yippeeee!! thanks!! Marisue
Russian dressing on iceberg lettuce sounds tasty.
My favorite deli in Boston made a Russian turkey sandwich with slaw on rye. I had one everyday resulting in Size 16 for 2 years until I moved out of there. They also used as condiment for their french fries.
Minnie's Mom, Robie2 shares your passion! (See her comment above.)
Russian dressing on french fries? I will die on the spot!
Thanks so much for stopping by.
Russian dressing on fries? Absolutely. When I lived in Utah, my friend ate something called fry sauce (seriously) which was a combination of ketchup and mayonaise. It was divine! I'm a little confused about the sweet pickles in your recipe. I thought Russian dressing did not have the sweet pickles, but thousand island dressing did (I always thought the islands were the pickles). Could be I just remember wrong--I haven't seen Russian dressing listed on the menu for years, but it is one of our favorites. Thanks for reminding me. I'll make it for dinner tonight.
minnow, thanks so much for stopping by.
Your Utah story reminds me of being in Holland in 1970, enjoying snacks from street vendors. A favorite was french fried potatoes served in a paper cone, sprinkled with salt, and lathered with mayonaisse and malt vinegar. There is no end of what can be done to french fries.
There is debate about what what differentiates Thousand Island from Russian. I don't have the answer. But I love the idea that the pickles might be the islands. How cool!
Please let us know how you like the Russian dressing from this recipe.
Best regards, ST.
Skip and Tad loved it. I made a smaller recipe, and Tad finished it off. It's a good thing we took that three mile walk this afternoon. Best, minnow
Minnow, I'm so sorry I didn't see your comment until now. So please forgive me for not responding sooner.
I am so glad Skip and Tad loved it. Two months later, are you still taking those three-mile walks? :)
Best wishes, S.
working
Zsuzsy Bee says:
5 months ago
I would think a lot of heritage recipes were measured like this..a pinch of this and a smidge of that and yum a perfect dish
good hub regards Zsuzsy