Creamy French Salad Dressing is my all time favorite dressing, yet when I moved to Australia, they didn’t sell it here! The Aussie version of French dressing is an oil and vinegar variety, and I couldn’t eat it and ending up throwing it away. It was just completely different from what I was expecting.
The salad dressing varieties in Australian grocery stores is about 1/10th of what is available in North America. Even some of what I would consider are the American basics aren’t available here, even though Kraft Foods exist in Australia. But I digress…..So I have had to learn how to make some of my favorite salad dressings.
As a teenager, I hated salads, but French Dressing changed that for me. I would order a garden salad and french fries at the school cafeteria, then I would get 2 French Salad Dressings. One would be for the salad, and the other I would dip the french fries into it. I would also dip my fries into Blue Cheese Dressing, so tasty. So my love affair with French Dressing began.
How to Make French Salad Dressing From Scratch
Salad dressings are surprisingly easy to make, and don’t have any of the unpronounceable ingredients in store-bought salad dressings. Things like Propylene Glycol Alginate, or Calcium Disodium EDTA, or even one on the main ingredients which is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Google the High Fructose Corn syrup, you’ll be surprised what we eat for convenience, I know I was! So now my rant is over.
TIP: You don’t need to use a food processor or blender to make French Dressing. Sometimes I don’t want the hassle of cleaning a food processor, as it’s really only the onion that needs blending. I cut the onion into smaller pieces, small enough to fit into a garlic press, and push through. The garlic press allows the onion pieces to be broken up small enough, saving blending time! Just place all the ingredients in a bowl, and vigorously whisk together until combined. Easy Peasy!
This homemade French Salad Dressing recipe is quick, easy and delicious. My kids completely devoured their salads with a generous serve of this tasty dressing. Ok, they drowned their salad with this dressing and licked the plates! If you’ve never tried Homemade French Salad Dressing before or made it at home, try this recipe, I’m sure you’ll love it! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
*Photos updated August 2018
French Salad Dressing
Homemade French Salad Dressing made in 2 easy steps. Made with regular pantry ingredients, preservative free. So tasty and tangy, I could almost drink it - Creamy French Dressing Recipe.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup Heinz ketchup
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup onion chopped
- 1 tsp fresh minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup vegetable/olive oil
Instructions
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Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, onion, garlic, salt pepper and paprika in a small food processor or blender and process until smooth.
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Gradually add the oil in a slow and steady stream, while still processing. Refrigerate for several hours before using.
Recipe Notes
TIP: You don't need to use a food processor or blender to make French Dressing. Sometimes I don't want the hassle of cleaning a food processor, as it's really only the onion that needs blending. I cut the onion into smaller pieces, small enough to fit into a garlic press, and push through. The garlic press allows the onion pieces to be broken up small enough, saving blending time! Just place all the ingredients in a bowl, and vigorously whisk together until combined.
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I started this website as a way to capture the recipes that I grew up with, and pass them onto the next generation. Being world travellers, there are foods from all over the world, but my passion is primarily the Russian foods I grew up with. 
This sounds amazing….can this be canned/bottled? In a water bath?
Hi Tammy. Sorry but I don’t know if it can be ‘canned’ or not. My concern would be the mayo which is already commercially ‘canned’ and then to re-can it…. just doesn’t sound right. I haven’t done it before, but am thinking it wouldn’t work. Placing it in a water bath, in raising the temp of the mayo would turn it back into oil. I don’t know how Hellman’s does it! My advice is to be safe, just make it fresh 😊
I love French dressing, and who knew it was so easy to make?! Thanks for sharing this! I’ll be making this instead of buying it in a bottle from now on.
Thanks Christine! So tasty and It’s so good knowing what ingredients go into your salad dressing, nothing unpronounceable! ????
Another great recipe! I remember having this when we were on holidays in the states. I can’t wait to try it! Thanks!
Thanks Janie! It’s one of the flavours I miss, yet most Aussies have never had it before! Well, not the creamy French dressing! Thanks for checking it out! Let me know how it goes!