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I’m a fan of Ott’s Dressing, and this Homemade French Dressing is a very close substitute if you don’t have any in your cupboard. It’s quick and easy to put together and is made with common ingredients.
I’ve always enjoyed French dressing on a green salad, especially Ott’s French Dressing. A fun fact is that it is actually made in Carthage, Missouri along Route 66, a town near mine. Learn more about Ott’s Food Here.
Much like Ott’s Dressing, this homemade French Dressing is lightly sweet and tangy, made so by the addition of prepared horseradish, garlic, and dried minced onion.
I love making my own salad dressings. Usually you can do so with common ingredients found in most every household. So, instead of buying overpriced salad dressing at the store, opt instead (at least once) to make your own.
More DIY Salad Dressings to Try
- Ranch Dressing Mix
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Italian Dressing Mix (Coming Soon)
Ingredients for Homemade French Dressing
(See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
- can of tomato soup
- vegetable oil
- granulated sugar
- light corn syrup
- red wine vinegar
- dried minced onion
- minced garlic
- prepared horseradish
- yellow mustard
- paprika
- seasoned salt
- freshly ground black pepper
A Note About Ingredients
As mentioned above, this recipe uses Prepared Horseradish. Please note, that Prepared Horseradish is not horseradish sauce, which is a mixture of ingredients used for sandwiches.
When searching copy cat recipes, as well as the ingredients for Ott’s French Dressing, I noticed that most called for corn syrup. Now I know that some folks have concerns about using corn syrup, and I considered simply using granulated sugar or even brown sugar, instead. But I wanted to stay as close to the original product as possible.
First I tried using only light corn syrup, but the end result wasn’t sweet enough for my taste. So, in the next recipe test, I opted to add granulated sugar, but reduce the amount of corn syrup. This worked for me, and hopefully, it will be satisfying to you as well.
If you prefer not to use corn syrup, simply use a total of 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, brown sugar, or even a sugar substitute, such as Splenda.
Lastly, you may notice paprika in this recipe, which offers a nice hint of smokiness. I briefly considered smoked paprika (which I adore) but decided it was too much for the dressing, so opted for its milder cousin. If you’re not a fan of paprika, you might substitute chili powder or red pepper, although I would go light on the latter, as it often packs a punch. Or simply omit the use altogether.
Necessary Kitchen Tools
Items you’ll need when making this recipe are common measuring cups and spoons and a medium-sized saucepan.
This recipe will make about 14 oz, so if you happen to have a large 16 oz vinegar cruet bottle, you may store the dressing in that. A pint jar also works well. If you will be serving a larger family, feel free to double or triple this recipe as needed.
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Gather the ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
In a medium saucepan, combine the can of tomato soup, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, white corn syrup, and red wine vinegar. Whisk to combine.
Next add the seasonings to the dressing. Add in dried minced onion, minced garlic, prepared horseradish, yellow mustard, paprika, seasoned salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
Place saucepan over medium heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to lightly boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool, transfer dressing to a glass cruet bottle or pint jar. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using to allow the ingredients to meld.
Use on your favorite lettuce salad. Serve with your favorite snack crackers or with crunchy breadsticks.
You may store this dressing in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. This recipe will make 14 oz and will serve approximately 6-8 people.
See more Salad Ideas Here. Browse Sauces, Spices, and Syrups Here.
Homemade French Dressing
Ingredients
- 10.5 oz condensed tomato soup
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons dried minced onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the can of tomato soup, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, white corn syrup, and red wine vinegar. Whisk to combine.
- Next, add the seasonings to the dressing. Add in dried minced onion, minced garlic, prepared horseradish, yellow mustard, paprika, seasoned salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Place saucepan over medium heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and continue to lightly boil for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool. Once cool, transfer dressing to a glass cruet bottle or pint jar. Cover with a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours before using to allow the ingredients to meld.
- Use with your favorite green salad. Store in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. This recipe will make 14 oz and will serve approximately 4-6 people.
