Difference Between Mayonnaise and Salad Dressing

Mayonnaise vs Salad Dressing

Mayonnaise is a mixture of oil, egg yolk, and vinegar or lemon juice that can be combined with other ingredients, such as, spices and herbs. It is emulsified by the lecithin in the egg yolk and can either be thick or thin in texture. It is made by slowly mixing oil and egg yolk using a whisk or fork or an electric mixer. The process is slow and needs to be done carefully to achieve the right consistency. Mustard can be added to the mixture to help emulsify it.
It originated in Spain and was known as Salsa Mahonesa and became known as mayonnaise as it made its way to France. From there it came to be known in England and to the rest of the world. Today it is used as a dip or as a base for sauces and salad dressings such as:

Fry sauce, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, ketchup, Tabasco sauce, spices, and soy sauce.
Marie Rose sauce, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, tomato sauce, cream, and brandy.
Ranch dressing, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, buttermilk or sour cream, green onions, and seasonings.
Rouille, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, saffron, red pepper, and paprika.
Salsa golf, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, ketchup, red pepper or oregano.
Sauce remoulade, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, mustard, gherkins, capers, parsley, and anchovy.
Tartar sauce, which is a mixture of mayonnaise and pickles.
Thousand Island dressing, which is a mixture of mayonnaise, tomato sauce, chili sauce, pickles, herbs and spices, and egg.

Thousand Island dressing is one kind of salad dressing which is used to enhance the flavor of salads. There are many ingredients used in the making of salad dressings, and one of the most commonly used ingredients is mayonnaise.
Salad dressings can be thick or thin depending on the ingredients used. Aside from the mayonnaise, herbs and spices can be used together with pickled vegetables, nuts, fruits, oil, vinegar, sugar, chili, and other condiments. They are used as dips for vegetables and chips or as fillings for sandwiches. Salad dressings can be kept fresh by placing it in a refrigerator to cool. Aside from its use as a base for salad dressings, mayonnaise is also used as a sandwich spread.
During the Depression, most people cannot afford to buy mayonnaise so they developed the salad dressing spread which is made like mayonnaise but has more sugar, vinegar, and water with less egg yolk to make a cheaper sandwich spread. It is sweeter and tangier than mayonnaise.
Summary:

1.Mayonnaise is a mixture of egg yolk, oil, and vinegar while salad dressing is a mixture of mayonnaise and several other ingredients.
2.Mayonnaise is used as a sandwich spread and as base in salad dressings while salad dressing is used to enhance the flavor of salads.
3.Both mayonnaise and salad dressings can be used as dips for vegetables and chips, but salad dressings contain more ingredients than mayonnaise.

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