Thousand Island Dressing

Original Dressing Recipe and Newer Version

Real Restaurant Salad Dressings

As with many recipes (if not most), a Thousand Island Dressing Recipe has many variations.

This salad dressing is a variation of Russian salad dressing (which often contains yogurt and more chili sauce or ketchup).

This delicious salad dressing is not only used on salads, but it is excellent as a vegetable dip.

Often people use it as a sandwich spread, as well.

Some people have told me the name of the dressing is because the tiny pieces of pickle (or pepper) makes it look like there are a thousand little islands in the dressing. I don't believe that is where the name came from.

From what I have read, a lady by the name of Sophia LaLonde invented it about 1910. Mrs. LaLonde lived in the Thousand Islands region of upstate New York. So I believe the salad dressing is named after that region.

There are two recipes for Thousand Island on this page. The first is as close to the original version as I know (Mrs. LaLonde's recipe).

The second is one that has been used at the restaurant for many years and is a little more like most recipes for this dressing today.

But neither recipe is "bright" orange, as you often see in grocery stores today.

Original Thousand Island Dressing

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

• 3 eggs, hard boiled, peeled, cooled and chopped well
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 quart mayonnaise
• 3/4 cup sweet pickle relish
• 1/2 cup chopped black olives
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, whisk together (or use a spatula) the chopped eggs, Worcestershire, sugar, vinegar, cloves, mayonnaise, relish, olives and red pepper until well blended
• Pour into a container, refrigerate and serve chilled

1000 Island Dressing Recipe # 2

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Makes approximately 40 servings (2 tablespoons each)

(For carb counters, each serving of 2 tablespoons is about 2 carbs)

Ingredients:

• 1 quart mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup water or milk
• 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup bottled chili sauce (or to taste)
• 1/2 cup sweet pickles, finely chopped (or use pickle relish)

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl
• Pour into a container and refrigerate

Enjoy your Thousand Island Dressing as a sandwich spread, a dip with veggies or on a salad or ...as I was first introduced to it (many years ago), on a wedge of iceberg lettuce. (The “wedge” is back, of course). :-)

Donna

"The embarrassing thing is that the salad dressing is outgrossing my films."

Paul Newman