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Jun 10 2017

Grandma’s Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing

Find the recipe card at the end of the post. Make sure to read the content as it contains chef tips, substitution options, and answers to FAQs to help you succeed the first time around!

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A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma's Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It's creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!  
A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma's Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It's creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!  
A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma's Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It's creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!  

A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma’s Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It’s creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!  

Grandma was a rock star in the kitchen. She took all of 5′ nothin’ but man, she was a giant in the kitchen. This recipe is iconic of her. It was creamy, sweet, with a hint of sass, and went beautifully with everything.

Grandma often used this dressing on her potato and egg salads when she ran out of mayonnaise. I was always thankful when she ran out of mayo, as I’m not a big fan of it. There’s just something unique about the flavor and the way it hugs the food.

A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma's Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It's creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!  

To be honest, I would have never thought of using this dressing on anything other than my potato salad or zippy egg salad. It wasn’t until I was at work and tried that classic broccoli salad. It looked awesome, but that first bite, all I tasted was mayo. Yeah, no… I could do better.

I got home and my girlfriend called me that night to invite me over for a cookout. Mama always raised me to never show up empty-handed, so when I asked her what she wanted me to bring, she just said, “Oh, surprise me. Everything you make is awesome!” 

So the day of the cookout, I decided to whip up my version of a broccoli salad using my dressing, er um.. Grandma’s dressing. I knew I loved the taste, and it went well with so many other dressings, why not?

So, I made the dressing, and while it was cooling, I whipped up a salad. Right before I left, I added the dressing, gave it a few shakes to coat, and was out the door.

Now, when I say people fought over this dish, I’m not exaggerating. One aunt dumped half of it in a plastic bag so she could take it home.

Her sister saw this and took it off of her. And that’s when it happened.  First came the tug of war over the bag. Next came the yelling and name-calling. And finally, I kid you not, came the punch. The one aunt punched the other in the arm (hard for a 60-year-old woman!). I found it amusing and a huge compliment. LOL

Since then, that dish with the dressing has been highly requested. And yes, before you ask, I will post my broccoli slaw recipe next. Patience grasshopper!

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Grandma’s Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing Recipe

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5 from 2 reviews

A traditional classic slaw dressing that is two generations old, Grandma’s Old Fashioned Boiled Dressing has zero mayo and incredible flavor! It’s creamy, tangy, peppery, and perfectly delicious!

  • Author: The Kitchen Whisperer
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: ~ 1 cup
  • Category: boiled dressing, condiment, dressing, slaw
  • Method: stove top
  • Cuisine: boiled dressing, condiment, dressing, slaw

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons flour (or cornstarch)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 3/4 teaspoon celery seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. In the bottom of a double boiler (medium saucepan) add 1” of water and turn the heat to medium.
  2. In the top bowl of the double boiler (glass bowl that can rest slightly in the saucepan but not touch the water) add the mustard powder, sugar, salt, flour and water. Whisk to combine.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together the egg yolks and vinegar. Pour that into the water mixture and whisk.
  4. Place the bowl on top of the double boiler and keep whisking until the mixture thickens and can coat the back of a spoon. 8-10 minutes.
  5. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in the butter. Once the butter is incorporated, add in the cream, whisking to blend.
  6. Add in the celery seed and pepper. Taste for salt.
  7. Pour into a glass container and once, cool, cover and store in the fridge for up to one week.

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8 responses

  1. Ellie
    October 28, 2023

    Yes, made it 10/28/2023.Great recipe. Reminiscent of my grandmother’s.

    Reply
    1. Lori
      October 29, 2023

      So happy you loved it Ellie!

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  2. Wisteria Hatherlee
    August 17, 2021

    Use a stick blender and microwave for three minutes…blending at one minute intervals.

    Reply
    1. TKWAdmin
      August 18, 2021

      I’ve not tried that. When my grandma created her recipe microwaves and stick blenders didn’t exit.

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  3. James Rhodes
    March 27, 2020

    Hi everyone – do yourself a favor and resurrect a boiled dressing. You won’t be disappointed. When I was a child my grandmother always made her potato salad with boiled dressing. We’re talking in the 50’s. Much later in life my mom and dad were waxing nostalgically about grandma’s potato salad. I tried everything. They described it as being “creamy”. Try as I might and having gone to culinary school, I couldn’t replicate what they meant. Then it struck me. Grandma was always asking me if it was sweet enough or too sour. That memory did it – it had to be boiled dressing she used. Now when I make it, it’s so old it’s new. People rave about it. You can of course make this to your liking as far as sweetness, celery seed, pepper and so forth. One thing you do not need to do is make it in a double boiler. The flour will absolutely prevent the eggs from scrambling. You can boil it. Just as with creme anglaise and pastry cream. Creme anglaise or custard sauce has no flour so you must never boil it. Pastry cream does and therefore you can boil it as thick as you like. So don’t be afraid to put this together and you will see how many raves you get.

    Reply
  4. Jackie
    June 19, 2017

    Can you suggest. Something other than flour. I am sensitive to gluten?

    Reply
    1. TKWAdmin
      June 20, 2017

      Hi Jackie!!!

      You can use cornstarch or even tapioca starch. You just want a thickener replacement.

      Best Kitchen Wishes!

      Reply
  5. Karela
    June 10, 2017

    Hi Laurie. As I look at this recipe, the thought occurred that it might work to just thicken the flour and seasonings in a saucepan like gravy then add hot butter and cream and temper the egg in. Do you think that something similar might save the 8 minutes of stirring over boiling water? Or possibly a stick blender method????

    Reply

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I’m Lori, The Kitchen Whisperer®! Let me help you tame the kitchen one bite at a time.

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