With Russians in the news, here's my recipe for tangy Red Russian Dressing.

[procon]

There seems to be two versions of Russian Dressing, one that looks more like Thousand Island Dressing that is made with mayo and ketchup and doubles as a sandwich spread, but in my family we always made the ketchuppy (is that even a word!), red lacquer recipe that is sharp and tangy. See, Russian Dressing is supposed to be brilliantly red... you know, as in communists... red, right?

Red Russian Dressing

Adds a bright taste and visual appeal even to a plain wedge of iceberg lettuce, but its wonderful stuff on a huge mixed salad. Its a very versatile recipe and we also use it on homemade french fries, as a veggie dip, a dipping sauce for tempura shrimp and veggies, egg rolls, and to make the sauce for Sweet and Tangy Russian Chicken.

1/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 paprika (I use smoked)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons celery seeds

Mix all ingredients and adjust to suit your taste, keeping it sweet and tangy. Refrigerate in a tightly covered container for several hours or overnight to mingle the flavors.


Hope you'll try it and like it as much as we do.

[irisblue]

1. I do like an iceberg wedge 'salad'. Going to try this soon. NT

[Runningdawg]

2. Good to see

I am not the only one who makes dressing. Try a few home made and you will never again bother with the stuff on the shelf.

[procon]

3. I know!

It's so much cheaper, and much more flavorful to make your favorite salad dressings without any chemical additives or other unwanted ingredients. I make most dressings from scratch because I like the variety of different combinations, and its hard to find Russian, Green Goddess, Creamy Cilantro, Avocado Ranch, Raspberry Citrus Vinaigrette, and buying all those different types would cost a small fortune. Have you seen the cost of bottled dressings... yikes! Even those little packet mixes are overpriced.

[Warpy]

4. I can't stand most bottled dressing

and would prefer to eat my lettuce with a sprinkle of garlic salt than any of that glop.

What my mother used to do was mix two parts ketchup, one part mustard, and three parts mayo together. It's surprisingly good and you can make just a little if you live alone and don't live on bunny food.

Guests over the years have raved about it and I haven't had the heart to tell them what's in it.

[japple]

5. I've started using a dressing made of freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and

a little blob of spicy brown mustard. It is very good and easy.