Buzz
Navigating the world of salad dressings can be confusing, given the vast array of options available in stores and restaurants. The distinctions between certain dressings can be so subtle that it’s hard to know which one to choose.
Take, for example, Thousand Island and Russian dressing. Both share a pinkish hue and a chunky texture, and their flavors are quite alike. So, how do you tell them apart?
As reported by Eater, these two dressings share a couple of key ingredients. Both are crafted from a surprising mix of ketchup and mayonnaise, and they usually include pickle relish for added flavor.
The two dressings diverge significantly in their additional ingredients. Russian dressing derives its distinctive taste primarily from horseradish. It also incorporates Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, paprika, and onion powder. Traditionally, Russian dressing was a staple on the Reuben sandwich, a classic combination of corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut. Thanks to the horseradish, it’s known for its sinus-clearing properties due to allyl isothiocyanate, a compound that can make your nose run. This makes it the spicier option of the two.
Russian dressing was created by James E. Colburn in New Hampshire around the early 1900s. Initially, its pink tint came from poached coral and crushed lobster shells. The name’s origin remains unclear, though it may stem from the stereotype that Russians enjoy pickles, as ethnic stereotyping has historically influenced food naming conventions.
Thousand Island dressing incorporates finely chopped ingredients such as boiled eggs, onions, and olives, with occasional additions like parsley. It closely resembles the sauce used on Big Macs at McDonald’s and animal-style burgers at In-N-Out. The popularity of Russian dressing on Reuben sandwiches likely inspired fast food chains to adopt a similar tangy dressing for their offerings. Thousand Island is believed to have been invented by Sophia LaLonde and named after the Thousand Islands region straddling northern New York and southern Ontario, Canada.
According to Eater, Russian dressing may be fading from use—at least in name. Many people now refer to similar recipes as Thousand Island to avoid confusion. However, some brands, like Wish-Bone, still produce dressings labeled Russian. Their version boasts a “sweet tomato, tangy vinegar” flavor with a dark red hue, while their Thousand Island remains the familiar pink color, emphasizing pickle relish. Whichever you choose, Thousand Island seems to have emerged as the preferred choice for sandwiches and salads.
