A good Reuben isn’t anything too complicated. All you need is corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and rye bread—but the one ingredient that really ties the room together is the Russian dressing. The creamy pinkish-orange sauce brings tang, additional fat, and moisture to the proceedings, no question, but it was never quite clear to me what separates Russian dressing from its more casual cousin, Thousand Island. After all, they look pretty much the same, and they bring the same virtues to a big honking sandwich. The difference, it turns out, all comes down to a single ingredient.
The one ingredient that separates Russian from Thousand Island
The ingredient that differentiates Russian dressing from Thousand Island is—drumroll, please—horseradish. When you have Russian dressing accenting a hearty sandwich like a Reuben, the horseradish can be hard to detect, especially when you’ve got the sharp, funky flavors of sauerkraut to contend with. Instead of kicking you in the nose, the horseradish just adds a certain je ne sais quoi to the sauce and, by extension, the sandwich.
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The compound in horseradish that gives it such sinus-clearing power is something called allyl isothiocyante (more on that here), which is also present in mustard and wasabi. Those foods are “spicy” in a way that hits your nose, whereas the capsaicin in chili peppers is the type that burns your tongue.
The rest of the ingredients in Russian dressing are similar if not identical to Thousand Island: mayo, ketchup, finely chopped veggies such as onion or pickle relish, and maybe a dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Why Thousand Island remains the sauce of choice for burgers
Mental Floss suggests that the Reuben is how this general style of dressing made the jump from salads to sandwiches in the first place. And while the horseradish arguably makes Russian dressing a little more flavorful, Thousand Island tends to be the secret sauce of choice for burgers, perhaps because the horseradish would just get buried beneath the other elements anyway.
Russian and Thousand Island have lots of other cousins, too. McDonald’s Big Mac sauce is sort of a cross between Thousand Island and Russian dressing, but it omits sweet ketchup in favor of the horseradish-like burn of mustard. Then there’s comeback sauce, comparable to Thousand Island without the pickle relish. And although the recipe forRaising Cane’s dipping sauceremains a secret, I’d be surprised if it were much different.
When you bite into your next Reuben—which should be soon—take a closer look at what’s on it. Chew slowly. Focus on the flavors, letting your palate hunt around for that little horseradish kick. Once you find it, it’s like the secret handshake that gains you entry into the world of damn good sandwiches.
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FAQs
Russian dressing is made with a mayonnaise-ketchup base, often livened up with pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, prepared horseradish, and lemon juice and seasoned with paprika, onion powder, and/or mustard powder. It's spicier and less sweet than Thousand Island, with a more complex, nuanced je ne sais quoi.
What is the difference between Russian and Thousand Island dressing? ›
The ingredient that differentiates Russian dressing from Thousand Island is—drumroll, please—horseradish. When you have Russian dressing accenting a hearty sandwich like a Reuben, the horseradish can be hard to detect, especially when you've got the sharp, funky flavors of sauerkraut to contend with.
What is Russian dressing now called? ›
In the United States, Russian dressing has largely been supplanted by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and less spicy than Russian. Other combinations of mayonnaise and ketchup, but without the spicy ingredients, are known as fry sauce or other names, and typically served with French fries or tostones.
Which type of dressing are Russian and Thousand Island group of answer choices? ›
Both dressings typically start with a mayonnaise and ketchup base, but Russian dressing often includes chili sauce and horseradish that add a little spiciness. Thousand Island is sweeter and has a creamier texture. It usually includes onions, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, and sweet pickles or pickle relish.
Can you substitute Thousand Island dressing for Russian dressing? ›
What can be substituted for Russian dressing? Thousand Island dressing is the perfect substitute for Russian dressing, as they are very similar. Store-bought or homemade Thousand Island will work just fine.
Is Big Mac sauce just Thousand Island? ›
The answer is no… but they are similar. Both of the condiments have a creamy consistency and include pickle relish. But, McDonald's Big Mac Sauce includes vinegar and has a bit more pickle relish in it than Thousand Island dressing.
Does a reuben have Thousand Island or Russian? ›
Sauce - A traditional Reuben sandwich uses creamy Russian dressing for the sauce, but Thousand Island dressing is another popular option that tastes really similar, albeit slightly sweeter with a bit less kick than Russian dressing.
Do they eat Russian dressing in Russia? ›
Russian dressing isn't Russian
That's right: Believe it or not, Russian Dressing hails from the decidedly-not-Russian province of Nashua, New Hampshire. Sources credit its invention to one James E. Colburn.
What is another name for Thousand Island dressing? ›
Thousand Island dressing is widely used in fast-food restaurants and diners in the United States, where it is often called "special sauce" or "secret sauce".
What is Ken's Russian dressing? ›
Ken's Deluxe Russian Dressing is a creamy, full-bodied delight. The perfect blend of sweet ketchup, mayonnaise, and relish with mild spicy notes from chili sauce and red bell pepper. A flavor-forward Russian dressing with sweetness and tang. Adds big-time taste to any house salad, signature salad, or Reuben sandwich.
But how did this tangy topping get its name? Thousand Island Dressing was named in honor of the beautiful area where it was first prepared, Thousand Islands, New York. Story goes, in the early 20th century, a fishing guide's wife, Sophie Lalonde, made the condiment for her husband's shore dinner.
What is Thousand Island Dressing called in Germany? ›
Thousand Island is called American Sauce in Germany.
What is the difference between 1000 island and Russian dressing? ›
To start, both are mostly made from a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, but generally, Russian dressing is a little spicy while Thousand Island tends to be on the sweeter side. Each may include chili sauce in addition to, or sometimes instead of, ketchup.
What is a West Coast Reuben? ›
The West Coast Reuben. Hand-carved, house-roasted. turkey and thick-cut ham on grilled rye bread with. Swiss, shredded cabbage and Thousand Island. dressing.
Are reuben sandwiches pressed or toasted? ›
A Reuben is a classic deli sandwich made with rye bread, corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and either Russian or Thousand Island dressing. You could serve the sandwich cold, but it gains a warm, melty consistency when the sandwich is toasted. You don't need a panini press to pull it off, either.
Is California French dressing the same as Russian dressing? ›
A. A French dressing is rooted in oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, ketchup, minced shallot or garlic, sugar, and paprika. On the other hand, the Russian dressing mainly comprises mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, minced onion, pickle horseradish, and paprika.
What is Thousand Island dressing made of? ›
Thousand Island Ingredients: It's mixture of mayonnaise, sour cream, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, red onion vinegar, sugar, garlic, and salt and pepper. All ingredients are combined by hand to make a perfect, thick, and creamy dressing, dip, or sauce.
