Dressed to impress: Easy and tasty DIY salad dressings
Salad dressings don't have to be complicated to be good. Any dressing you make at home will be better-tasting and infinitely better for you than something you buy in a bottle. It takes a minute to make a dressing. Follow a 3:1 oil-to-vinegar ratio (3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar) for a basic vinaigrette, add flavorings that pair with the rest of your meal, and run with your imagination! Play with the basic vinaigrette by layering on different flavor profiles. Some suggestions:
- For something a little more sophisticated, use walnut oil and sherry vinegar.
- For a uniquely Asian flavor, use sesame oil, rice vinegar, and a touch of soy sauce.
- For an Indian flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon cumin, or to taste.
- For a Mexican twist, add 1 teaspoon dry or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, or to taste.
- For a Moroccan flavor, add 1 tablespoon finely diced preserved lemon rind and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro and/or parsley.
Here are some basic recipes to get you started.
Servings: 8 to 12
Prep time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red- or white-wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Honey lemon dressing
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
Citrus dressing
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 3/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup
- Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Place all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined, or in a jar, and shake until well-mixed.
Nutrition information (per serving)
- Calories: 145
- Total carbohydrate: 1 g
- Total fat: 16 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Total sugars: 0 g
Honey lemon dressing (per 2 tablespoon serving):
- Calories: 147
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fat: 16 g
- Protein: 0
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Sugar: 1 g
Citrus dressing (per 2 tablespoon serving):
- Calories: 148
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fat: 16 g
- Protein: 0
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Sugar: 0 g