Russian dressing
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Russian dressing is a piquant American salad dressing consisting of mayonnaise, ketchup, and other ingredients.Template:Citation needed
HistoryEdit
Russian dressing is mentioned as early as 1900 in U.S. sources.<ref>Frederick, Maryland News March 24, 1900 5/3, quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary, Third Edition, March 2011 s.v.</ref> It is also documented in a 1910 catering book as an alternative to vinaigrette for dressing tomatoes or asparagus.<ref>Charles Fellows, The Menu Maker, The Hotel Monthly Press, 1910, p. 114</ref> A 1913 cookbook has a recipe which is a vinaigrette with paprika and mustard.<ref>Margaret McHale, The C.W.C. Cook Book, Catholic Women's Club, 1913, p. 76</ref> A mayonnaise-based recipe is documented in 1914.<ref>Clearfield, Pennsylvania Progress, 7 May 1914, p. 10, as quoted in Barry Popik's blog entry of 28 November 2006 Template:Webarchive</ref> The condiment came to be called "Russian" since the original recipe included caviar, a staple of Russian cuisine.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Local historians claim that the mayonnaise-based version was invented in Nashua, New Hampshire, by James E. Colburn in the 1910s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A 1927 biographical article calls him "the originator and first producer of that delectable condiment known as Russian salad dressing".<ref name="holl"/> Colburn had been selling "Colburn's Mayonnaise salad dressing" at his store since at least 1910.<ref>"Local Mention", Nashua Telegraph, 6 May 1910, p. 10</ref>
By 1914, Colburn's company was manufacturing it,<ref>Template:Cite news "for over sixteen years"</ref> and distributing it to retailers and hotels. He earned enough from its sale to retire in 1924.<ref name="holl"/>
PreparationEdit
Typically piquant, it is today characteristically made of a blend of mayonnaise and ketchup complemented with such additional ingredients as horseradish, pimentos, chives, mustard, and spices.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:CitationTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
UsesEdit
Besides being used as a salad dressing, Russian dressing is used as a spread for Reuben sandwiches.
Related saucesEdit
In the United States, Russian dressing has largely been supplanted by Thousand Island dressing, which is sweeter and less spicy than Russian.<ref name="holl">John Holl, "America was sweet on its spicy Russian dressing — until Thousand Island, that is", Washington Post 22 December 2014 Template:Webarchive</ref>
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.
In Australia, sauce made from mayonnaise and ketchup is called Cocktail Sauce and is used to dress prawns/shrimp in the appetiser known as prawn cocktail.
Tartar sauce has the piquant ingredients of Russian dressing, without the ketchup. It is typically served with fried fish.
Marie Rose sauce is similar to Russian dressing, but with different piquant ingredients. It is typically served with seafood.
A variant known as red Russian dressing is very much like Catalina or French dressing.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In Germany and Italy, a similar salad dressing is called "American dressing".;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> sometimes, in Italy it's also called a "Burger Sauce" or "Burger Dressing" <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>