Okay, so I’ve been on this huge salad kick lately, and you know I love trying to recreate restaurant favorites at home. Hendrickson’s dressing has always been a mystery to me – that tangy, slightly sweet, creamy goodness. I finally decided to crack the code, and let me tell you, it was an adventure!
The Hunt for Ingredients
First things first, I needed to figure out what even goes into this stuff. I looked at the bottle, scoured the internet, combined some, played with the ratios and prayed. I grabbed:
- Mayonnaise: The base of it all, obviously. I went with regular, full-fat mayo because, why not?
- Ketchup: Adds that sweetness and a little bit of tomato-y flavor.
- Vinegar: I used white vinegar, seemed the most basic.
- Sugar: Gotta have that sweetness to balance the tang.
- Garlic powder: Just a pinch for some savory depth.
- Onion powder: Same as the garlic, just a touch.
- Salt and pepper: Seasoning essentials, duh.
- Optional Stuff: I saw some recipes call for Worcestershire sauce or a tiny bit of hot sauce. I played with these, I share my options below.
Mixing and Mashing and Praying
Now for the fun part – putting it all together! I started with a good dollop of mayo in a bowl, maybe about a cup? Then I squeezed in some ketchup, probably around 1/4 cup to start. Honestly, I mostly eyeballed it.
Next, I splashed in some white vinegar. This is where you really need to taste as you go. I added a tablespoon, whisked it up, and tasted. Needed more, so I added another, and repeat. Then a spoonful of sugar, some garlic and onion powder, salt, and pepper.
The first batch? Not quite there. Too much vinegar! I added more mayo and ketchup to balance it out. The second batch, after all those adjustments? Way closer. Still needed something… that tang.
So, I did a couple of batches, with tiny tweaks.
- Batch 1: Too much vinegar.
- Batch 2: Almost there…a bit bland.
- Batch 3: Added a tiny dash of Worcestershire. Better, but not it.
- Batch 4: A teeny, tiny drop of hot sauce (like, half a drop!)…BINGO!
The Winning Formula (Kinda!)
I say “kinda” because I’m still not 100% sure it’s a perfect match, but it’s darn close, and honestly, I like it better! For mine, I found the best combo to my taste:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2-3 tablespoons white vinegar (taste as you go!)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 drop of hot sauce (optional, but adds that zing)
Whisk it all together until it’s nice and smooth. It will be a pale pink, creamy dressing. Seriously, the “taste as you go” part is key. You might like it a bit sweeter, or tangier, so play around until it’s perfect for your tastebuds!
I slapped this on a big salad with some grilled chicken and, man, it was GOOD. I’ve been putting it on everything – sandwiches, wraps, even dipping veggies in it. I might be slightly obsessed. Definitely give it a try, and let me know how it turns out for you!
