Nyet Comrade, not the same! Russian and Thousand Island are both creamy mayo‑ketchup dressings, but Russian is sharper and spicier while Thousand Island is sweeter and chunkier. Us foodies need to know the differences!
Russian dressing almost always includes horseradish, which gives it a distinct bite. In contrast, 1000 Island is on the sweet side because it usually contains sweet pickle relish and sugar.
Russian is smoother because while it typically contains onion and/or pickles they are finely minced. Thousand Island is typically chunkier from added relish, onion, and sometimes chopped hard‑boiled egg.
So when to use Russian and when to use Thousand? The slight zing of Russian makes it a good match for meats such as on a Reuben sandwich or a burger aimed at grown-ups. Thousand Island's touch of sweetness makes it kid-friendly and a good match for many salads. It's hard to go wrong either way!
