Homemade Louie Dressing (2024)

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by Marcie //August 20, 2018 (updated 5/14/23)

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This Homemade Louie Dressing will take your shrimp louie salad over the top! It’s creamy, delicious and bursting with fresh flavor, and it comes together in 10 minutes!

Homemade Louie Dressing (1)

Raise your hand if you’re guilty of ordering the same dish at certain restaurants over and over again. My hand is up! There are just some dishes that are too good and I’m afraid if I order something else I’ll be disappointed.

My family and I have been going to a restaurant for years that has two dishes that I decide between every time — the fish tacos or the grilled prawn louie salad.

The grilled prawn louie salad won me over the second I tasted it. The salad includes succulent charred prawns, roasted beets, olives, tomatoes and avocado — which are all ingredients that I love — but it’s the louie dressing recipe that makes it next level delicious.

I’ve purchased the louie dressing in the restaurant’s market because I didn’t think I could ever recreate a version that I would like as much as theirs.

I finally decided to give it a go, and I’m over the moon about this version. 🙂

Homemade Louie Dressing (2)

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Louie dressing is reminiscent of Thousand Island dressing. It’s creamy and packed with fresh flavor, and is perfect drizzled over my shrimp louie salad or your favorite salad!
  • The recipe comes together in 10 minutes, and may be customized with your favorite mayo, vegan mayo or even Greek yogurt.
  • It’s a great make ahead recipe as the dressing keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe ingredients

There are a few ingredients in this louie dressing recipe, but they all play a part to make it extra special. Some ingredients may be customized as outlined below.

  • Mayo. Use your favorite mayo in this recipe. I use soy-free Vegenaise, which is vegan mayo because I love the flavor. You may also substitute the mayo for Greek yogurt.
  • Ketchup. I recommend using a natural ketchup that’s low in sugar if possible in order to keep the dressing from being sweet. I used just enough ketchup for mild tomato flavor.
  • Herbs. Fresh parsley and chives are what really set this louie dressing apart, so I don’t recommend leaving them out.
  • Worcestershire. This ingredient is instrumental in providing a deep, savory flavor. If you don’t have any on hand, try substituting it with reduced sodium soy sauce, tamari or liquid aminos.
  • Lemon juice. Fresh lemon juice is recommended as bottled just doesn’t have that fresh flavor.
  • Capers. The capers provide a delicious tart, briny flavor — they’re a must!
  • Horseradish. The horseradish adds a touch of spiciness, and you can certainly add more for a more pronounced flavor.
  • Sweet pickle relish. The relish adds flavor and texture to the dressing. Dill pickle relish may be substituted if desired.

How to make this recipe

This louis dressing is extremely easy to make, and it’s ready in just 10 minutes!

  • Add all ingredients except for the pickle relish into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth, then taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
  • Pour the dressing into a bowl and stir in the pickle relish. Add up to 1 tablespoon more if desired.
Homemade Louie Dressing (3)

FAQs

What’s the difference between Louie Dressing and Thousand Island Dressing?

Louie dressing (also known as louis dressing) typically contains mayo, chili sauce or ketchup, green onions and doesn’t contain sugar.
Louie dressing is not sweet and is slightly spicy from the chili sauce or horseradish that is often added.
Thousand Island dressing also contains mayo and ketchup, along with onion and sweet pickle relish. Thousand Island dressing is much sweeter than louie dressing and isn’t spicy at all.

How can I make Louie dressing with no mayo?

Substitute classic mayo with any type of vegan mayo or even Greek yogurt.

Recipe notes

  • I use Vegenaise in this recipe, which is a vegan mayo. I prefer the soy-free variety, but there are many to choose from including reduced fat. You can use your favorite mayo or even Greek yogurt!
  • Your favorite brand of ketchup may be used, but I recommend using a natural ketchup that’s low in sugar and doesn’t contain artificial ingredients. I used just enough to give the louie dressing a mild tomato flavor.
  • If you like a spicier dressing, substitute the ketchup with chili sauce or add more horseradish.
Homemade Louie Dressing (4)

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Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram

Homemade Louie Dressing (5)

Homemade Louie Dressing

Servings: 12 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 0 minutes mins

Additional Time: 0 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Homemade Louie Dressing is creamy, delicious and packed with fresh flavor! Recipe includes a vegan option and it's so easy to make!

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup mayo regular or vegan
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic minced (or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon capers
  • 1/4 teaspoon prepared horseradish
  • 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish without liquid
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except for the pickle relish into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth, then taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

  • Pour the dressing into a bowl and stir in the pickle relish. Add up to 1 tablespoon more if desired.

  • Serve with your favorite salad and enjoy!

Notes

  • You can use your favorite ketchup, but I recommend using a natural ketchup that’s low in sugar and doesn’t contain artificial ingredients. I used just enough ketchup in this dressing to give it tomato flavor without making it too sweet.
  • If you like a spicier dressing, substitute the ketchup with chili sauce or add more horseradish.
  • Worcestershire sauce may be substituted with soy sauce, or make it gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos.

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 127kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 161mg, Potassium: 16mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 84IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Dressings/Marinades

Cuisine: American

Author: Marcie

All recipes and images © Flavor the Moments.

Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

posted in: Condiments, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Recipes, Salad Dressing and Marinades, Vegan, Vegetarian // 18 comments

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    18 Comments on “Homemade Louie Dressing”

  1. Rae Reply

    Homemade Louie Dressing (6)
    Great recipe! I use to Tabasco sometimes instead of horseradish and some times I use both.

    • Marcie Reply

      Tabasco sounds like a nice touch! Thanks for your review! 🙂

  2. Vibrasprout Reply

    Love the recipe but please could you check the nutrition? It says serving size is 1g but rust would be 1/15 tbsp. That would make the sodium in 1tbsp equal to an entire day, but you are not adding that much.

    • Marcie Reply

      Sorry about that — the recipe card generates it as 1 gram instead of 1 serving. 1 serving is about 2 tablespoons. In regard to the sodium, the recipe card is simply using generic products and it’s typically off a bit. The sodium will vary based on the ketchup and other products that you use.

  3. Kenneth Gammon Reply

    The first time I’ve been able to get that flavor I’ve missed for so many years. Thank you so much.

    • Marcie Reply

      That means a lot — thank you for your feedback!

  4. Mary Reply

    This is really good and very versatile! I threw all ingredients (I used Greek yogurt) in wide mouth Mason jar, then used immersion blender. I made another jar using less ketchup and more horseradish, served with sirloin bull bites. Yum!

    • Marcie Reply

      Thanks so much for sharing your feedback Mary and I’m glad that you enjoyed this dressing!

  5. Balvinder Reply

    This is yum, Marcie! I can imagine how lovely this would be with so many things!

    • flavorthemoments Reply

      Thank you Balvinder!

  6. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary Reply

    **Both hands in the air** Like you, I’m pretty terrified of ordering something different from a restaurant where I have a favorite dish.. I have bad luck, so I’m 99.9% sure I’d just be disappointed! I LOVE LOVE LOVE crab and/or shrimp louie salad! It’s just so dang tasty! Naturally I’m seriously swooning over your dressing! I absolutely MUST make this!! Pinning!

    • flavorthemoments Reply

      I’m glad to hear someone else is like me…I hate being disappointed! haha Thanks Cheyanne! 🙂

  7. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking Reply

    I’ve never heard of louie dressing, but I love all the ingredients and it looks so creamy. I’m also not a fan of mayo, so I appreciate a creamy homemade dressing that’s mayo free!

    • flavorthemoments Reply

      It’s sort of like Thousand Island dressing but way better! Thanks Leanne! 🙂

  8. Zainab Reply

    This salad dressing sounds amazing! I think I would put it on everything!

    • flavorthemoments Reply

      We have been lately! haha Thanks Zainab!

  9. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice Reply

    I’ve never heard of this dressing before but I’m LOVING the sound of it! I typically try to order different dishes at my favorite restaurants, but if I really love it, I usually always order it. I can see why this dressing is a favorite of yours! And I love that you created your own without the mayo. Sounds like this has so many good uses!

    • flavorthemoments Reply

      Thanks Gayle! I really need to branch out when I eat out sometimes. 🙂

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