Why go to the trouble of preparing a delicious dinner just to bring out a bottle of some commercial salad dressing...it’s hard to find a good one and there isn't much special about any of them. A homemade salad dressing just seems to put an exclamation point on a nice dinner. The best part is you won’t believe how easy a good homemade salad dressing is to make. Sweet Daddy D’s Cajun Thousand Island Dressing gives a special Cajun twist to the timeless classic...it’s simple and you know it's no-angst!
Thousand Island Dressing was originally created in the early 1900s in the resort area along the St. Lawrence River between New York and Canada known as The Thousand Islands. Since that time, the ubiquity of the dressing has diminished its specialness, but don’t sell it short. A properly homemade Thousand Island Dressing is not only simple and quick but is quite delicious.
Here’s What You Need
The base of a good Thousand Island Recipe is always mayonnaise and ketchup. You could go with homemade if you’re into that, but its fine to just keep it simple with your favorite brands. Some sweet pickle relish adds the signature hint of sweetness while some lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce bring a tart tweak. Real Cajun flavors come from Creole Seasoning. A pinch or two of kosher salt and some ground white pepper bring things together. One thing that elevates this recipe over some traditional Thousand Island recipes is the spicy background. The Creole Seasoning adds some subtle heat, but the fresh garlic and cayenne pepper will leave no doubt.
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Here’s What You Do
First...you have a beer. This recipe is quick and easy to put together, so you may spend more time drinking beer than making this. That ought to get the recipe a great rating right there. Pop a beer and read through the recipe. The mise en place is mostly gathering the ingredients, so just confirm that you have everything you need plus a small bowl-I prefer to use glass.
Make the dressing
You need to decide how spicy you want to make this. I’m not talking about ghost pepper heat potential, but the raw garlic and cayenne can add some spiciness that may be too much for some. Chop the garlic very fine, or use a press, then measure out the rest of the ingredients. Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour but overnight is better.
That’s it, you’re done.
Not just for salad
Chop some fresh greens, hard boil an egg, slice some tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, artichokes or just about anything you like in a salad and pour some of this Cajun Thousand Island Dressing right on top. Add some to a chicken or turkey sandwich or make an outstanding Reuben by adding a generous helping to corned beef, swiss cheese and sauerkraut on some nice rye bread. It also makes for a not-so-secret sauce on some grilled burgers. Dip some carrots, cauliflower, celery or peppers in it for a wonderful garden treat.
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Hints and Tips
- This can get kind of spicy. First, the Creole seasoning may contain cayenne pepper and raw garlic will have its own kind of heat, so give it a taste before you add the garlic and the cayenne pepper to make sure it's to your liking.
- This recipe yields about 1 cup of dressing and is easy to increase. I am using 1 tablespoon as a serving.
- You can serve this right away but it's better to let the flavors all come together for at least an hour, but four hours is better and overnight is best!
- The original recipes used hard-boiled eggs as a thickener. If you are interested in trying this, add about half of a hard-boiled egg to this recipe (double the recipe and use a whole egg) by pressing it through a fine sieve or strainer. It’s interesting and very good.
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Yeah You Right!
Recipe
Cajun Thousand Island Dressing
Here's What You Need
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic finely chopped or pressed (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- Kosher salt and white pepper to taste
Here's What You Do
- MIx all ingredients together in a small bowl. Cover and set in the refrigerator for one hour up to overnight.
KG
So delish!!!! We had it with Dungeness crab and green salad. It was wonderful and not too overpowering. Thanks!
Sweet Daddy D
Yeah you right, KG! Thanks for giving the recipe a try, so glad you liked it. I appreciate the comment!
Miguel
Sir/Ma’am,
How long does stay good?
Miguel
Sweet Daddy D
Miguel, if you keep this sealed very tightly in a glass jar in the refrigerator, it will last 4 to 6 weeks. Just remember to keep it covered and airtight. Mix it well before each use. Thanks for reaching out!