CLASSIC ESSENTIALS: RUSSIAN DRESSING

Classic Essentials: Russian Dressing image

I hesitate to call this "classic" Russian dressing. Although it is classic, there are probably 50 more versions that are thought of as classic. With that said this is a good tasting dressing that would be happy drizzled over a bowl of fresh garden greens, as a condiment on a Ruben or Pastrami sandwich, and much more. I will be using this on some marbled rye Pastrami sandwiches tomorrow. So, you ready... Let's get into the kitchen.

Provided by Andy Anderson ! @ThePretentiousChef

Number Of Ingredients 10

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Ingredients

PLAN/PURCHASE
3/4 cup(s) mayonnaise, plain variety
1/4 cup(s) chili sauce
2 tablespoon(s) relish, sweet variety
1 tablespoon(s) dehydrated onions, ground to a powder
1 tablespoon(s) prepared horseradish
1 teaspoon(s) hot sauce, i prefer frank's
1 teaspoon(s) worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon(s) paprika, sweet or hot, your choice
salt, kosher variety, to taste

Steps:

PREP/PREPARE
You will need a bowl to whisk the ingredients together.
Is Russian Dressing Really Russian? Russian dressing has similar aspects to French dressing (which is not French), and Thousand Island dressing which does not come from the tropical islands. In the same respect Russian dressing is not Russian, it was probably invented by a gent named, James Colburn in 1910, who lived in Nashua, New Hampshire. The original recipe included caviar, which was a staple of Russian cuisine. The name caught on and survives to this day. And now you know the rest of the story.
Storage Of Homemade Condiments, Spices, and Sauces Because homemade spices and condiments do not contain any preservatives, it is important to store them properly. Non-reactive (glass) containers with tight-fitting lids are a must. If I am making a dry spice, I love to use old spice bottles that I have run through the dishwasher. If I am doing homemade sauces, I love using Weck jars. They are all glass, come in all sizes and shapes, and have excellent leakproof lids. If you shop online, you can go to Amazon, and type in "Weck Jars" and you will find a ton of them. Dry spices should be kept in a cool space, away from sunlight (spice cabinet), and sauces, in most cases, should be stored in the fridge. If properly stored, this dressing should last 8 - 10 days.
Homemade Mayonnaise To be sure, there are some good store-bought mayo's on the market (my all-time favorite is Duke's) If you live in the South, you have probably seen it on the shelves of your local grocer; however, as you travel North, it becomes as scarce as hen's teeth. If you would like to take a stab at making your own (it really is not all that difficult), check out this recipe: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/spread/mayonnaise-essentials-faux-duke-s-version.html?r=1 Homemade Worcestershire Looking for a good Worcestershire without anchovies, or all those chemical preservatives? It is easy/peasy to make and tastes like the real thing. So yummy. https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/sauce-spread/other-sauce-spread/diy-essentials-homemade-worcestershire-sauce.html?r=1
Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
This is easy/peasy. Add all the ingredients to a non-reactive bowl.
Whisk all the ingredients together, except the sweet relish.
Add the relish and fold into the dressing.
Add salt a bit at a time until you like what you taste.
Store, as suggested in step 4, until needed.
PLATE/PRESENT
Use anywhere you need a good Russian dressing. Enjoy.
Keep the faith, and keep cooking.