Russian Dressing

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Quick Bite

Russian dressing is a creamy, tangy, slightly spicy dressing made with mayonnaise, ketchup or chili sauce, horseradish, Worcestershire, and seasonings. Despite the name, its best-known origin story starts in Nashua, New Hampshire, not Moscow.

History

Russian dressing is widely credited to James E. Colburn of Nashua, New Hampshire, in the early 1900s. Colburn was a grocer and food producer who began selling and distributing the dressing commercially, helping it spread beyond local use.

The name “Russian” is a little mysterious. Some older versions may have included caviar or ingredients that felt “Russian” to American diners at the time, but the dressing itself is very much an American creation. Its base of mayonnaise and chili sauce or ketchup makes it a cousin to other pink-orange dressings, but Russian dressing usually has a sharper, spicier edge.

The dressing became especially famous as a Reuben sandwich ingredient. Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, rye bread, and Russian dressing are one of the great deli combinations, though Thousand Island is often used too.

Today, Russian dressing is less common as a salad dressing than it once was, but it still shines on sandwiches, burgers, seafood, and crisp wedge-style salads. New Hampshire gets to claim one of America’s most misnamed condiments.

Fun Facts

• Russian dressing is generally considered American, despite the name.
• Nashua grocer James E. Colburn is the key New Hampshire figure in its origin story.
• It is usually zippier than Thousand Island because of ingredients like horseradish, chili sauce, Worcestershire, or hot sauce.

Where to Try

O’Brien’s Sports Bar Nashua, New Hampshire
A fitting Nashua stop: their Reuben lists corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss, and Russian dressing on marbled rye.

Copper Door Restaurant Bedford / Salem, New Hampshire
Their lunch menu lists a pastrami Reuben with house-made sauerkraut and sriracha Russian dressing.

Bubba’s Bar & Grille Newbury, New Hampshire
Their Classic Reuben is listed with hand-sliced corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, and house Russian dressing on grilled marbled rye.

About the Game

This recipe is part of Van Life Challenge, a travel-themed board game from Gray Dog Games where players explore the United States, discover regional foods, and collect memorable experiences along the way.

Each featured food celebrates a real place, a local flavor, and the kind of delicious roadside discovery that makes every trip feel like an adventure.

Recipe

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Home-Cook-Friendly Russian Dressing Makes: About 1 ½ cups Prep: 10 minutes, plus chilling Cook: None Difficulty: Easy Style: Nashua, New Hampshire / American Dressing

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup chili sauce or ketchup
• 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon finely minced onion
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, optional
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Combine: Combine mayonnaise, chili sauce or ketchup, horseradish, Worcestershire, onion, lemon juice, hot sauce, paprika, and garlic powder in a bowl.
2. Whisk: Whisk until smooth.
3. Adjust: Taste and adjust with salt, pepper, more horseradish, or more lemon juice.
4. Chill: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors blend.
5. Serve: Use on Reubens, burgers, salads, shrimp, or as a dip for fries.

Traditional note: To make it more traditional, use mayonnaise and chili sauce as the base, add horseradish or a little heat, and keep it tangier and sharper than Thousand Island. For a Reuben, spread it generously on rye bread before grilling.

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