How To Make Homemade Salad Dressing

In General Use A Ratio Of Three Parts Oil To One Part Vinegar Plus A Small Amount Of An Emulsifier Add Other Ingredients To Taste From There

For a perfect dressing, Williamson says you should use three parts oil to one part vinegar along with a little emulsifier, which can be anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon depending on the quantity of dressing you’re making.

Yeung says you can use seasonings and other ingredients in whatever quantity you want. “The amount of seasonings are really up to your preferences and how cohesive and flavorful you want the dressing to be.”

Start with a small amount of olive oil and vinegar. From there, be as experimental as you like, Jessica Swift, R.D. and chef, tells SELF. That way, if you end up not liking the way it tastes, you will only have to throw away a bit instead of a whole bowl of salad dressing.

Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings

Healthy homemade salad dressing recipes that are super easy to make from a basic balsamic vinaigrette to peanut, honey mustard and cilantro lime. All dressings are gluten-free, vegan-friendly and paleo-friendly.

Regular readers know that I could practically live on salads because I love them so much. Theyre such an easy option for healthy eating because you can literally toss a protein and healthy fat over a bed of greens with a ton of veggies or a whole grain and youve got yourself a delicious meal.

And honestly salads are all about the toppings! Yes, the greens are important, but if you have a ton of flavorful toppings you might not even need a dressing. A drizzle of good balsamic vinegar, a scoop of hummus or even hot sauce will do the trick. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but I put hot sauce on everything even salad.

That said, there are definitely times when Im in the mood for a salad with actual dressing. For times like this I like to whip out one of my homemade salad dressing recipes. The six Im sharing are my go-tos. I make them all the time, but theyve never really been featured on the blog because theyre all hidden within different salad recipes. Now theyre all are in one spot for easy reference.

How To Make Greek Salad

Even Panera cant compare to this quick and easy dish!

PRO TIP: For more flavor, let the salad chill for a few hours or overnight in the fridge. This allows the flavors to blend together!

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What Do You Store Homemade Salad Dressing In

The dressings store so well in wide-mouth half-pint mason jars. These lids are also really nice to have on hand! Each recipes only makes about a cup which is great if you ask me.

Here’s to make all kind of easy salad dressing recipes at home so that you never get sick of eating your veggies. You could try a new one a week and you’ll have months worth of great salad dressings to try. I can’t wait for you to make them!

How To Make My Mega Italian Salad

I didnt make a recipe video for this salad because its so straightforward.

MAKE AHEAD Just keep the salad separate from the vegetables. Its good for 24 hours, and still acceptable for 48 hours.

Also Check: Betty Crocker Pudding Fruit Salad

Ditch The Bottled Stuff

Does this sound like you You put a good deal of time and effort into creating a beautiful salad only to finish your masterpiece with a store-bought bottle of dressing? Weve all been there and thats why everyone needs these quick-and-delicious recipes. Whether youre looking for a tangy vinaigrette to top peppery arugula, savory Caesar to go with crisp romaine or something creamier to dress hardy greens, youll find that homemade salad dressing is not only easy to whip up its way more delicious than store-bought. Case in point? This bright and refreshing, made-from-scratch dressing that you know from your favorite sushi restaurant. White, subtly sweet miso is the key to this well-balanced vinaigrette it’s mellower than other varieties and wont affect the eye-catching color of the finished dressing.

Get the Recipe: Carrot Ginger Dressing

How To Store Homemade Salad Dressing

I recommend storing your homemade dressing in a glass container in the refrigerator. I like to use mason jars! One thing to note: homemade dressings made with olive oil tend to harden and separate when stored in the fridge. This is completely normal! Take the dressing out of the fridge about 20 minutes before using so it can come to room temperature and then give it a quick shake to recombine the ingredients.

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Homemade Greek Salad Dressing

This tangy Homemade Greek Salad Dressing has the perfect flavor balance to compliment a traditional Greek salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, kalamata olives, and Feta cheese.

Whip it up in just 5 minutes with a good quality extra-virgin olive oil, then serve this versatile dressing over salads or pasta salads, or even basted on grilled chicken or fish.

My easy Homemade Greek Salad Dressing recipe is made with dried oregano and basil, but if you have fresh, by all means use that instead. A splash of lemon juice brightens up all the flavors and a bit of Dijon mustard stabilizes the dressing so that it doesnt separate.

Try this dressing on any type of leafy green salad or use it in Healthy Greek Coleslaw for a delicious lunch. Once you try making this dressing at home, you may never the buy bottled kind again!

Flavoring Possibilities For Homemade Salad Dressings

Ok, so you have your base of oil, vinegar, a thickener and a sweetener. Now its time to jazz it up with some added flavor. Check out these possibilities and personalize your salad dressing one of these or with your own favorite flavors!

• Cheese – grated or shredded, mild or sharp, the choice is yours
• Chutney – to add sweetness and lots of flavor
• Fresh ginger – minced or grated will give an Asian flair
• Flavored mustard – select from horseradish, sharp, yellow, Dijon and more
• Cucumber – grated cucumber will give a light freshness
• Garlic – minced or roasted
• Poppy seeds – also give a bit of texture
• Soy sauce – for a unami flavor
• Fruit juice – add your favorite juice for sweetness and flavor
• Shallots – a mild onion flavor
• Honey – an undeniable sweet flavor
• Spices – so many to choose from!
• Fresh herbs – small leaves or chopped
• Scallions – add a mild onion flavor
• Tabasco – will spice it up with some heat
• Citrus zest – lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, grapefruit and more add a burst of frresh tangy flavor
• Horseradish – adds heat and a sharp edge
• Worcestershire sauce– imparts garlic and spice flavors

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Raw Unfiltered Cider Vinegar Vs Filtered

• It seems boutique unfiltered cider vinegar from smaller producers has been popping up everywhere lately. For years now I have been buying it in small quantities from Shelburne Orchards. But now I am seeing a whole new crop of locally produced boutique apple cider vinegars on the shelves. One of the most common nationally available brands is Braggs.
• The difference between the cloudy unfiltered vinegars and the clear commercially produced vinegar, is the former isnt heat treated or pasteurized and filtered. That means raw unfiltered vinegar has active enzymes from the fermentation process.
• Another difference between the two is that in the initial fermentation phase commercial processors add yeast, whereas smaller micro-batch producers use natural airborn yeasts.

A Few Tips For How To Make The Best Horiatiki:

If youre wondering how to put this salad together, it could not be any simpler! Here are a few tips from my Greek friends on how to prepare and serve this salad:

• Cut the vegetables into large slices or chunks. The base ingredients of tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions are typically cut in large slices or chunks and served in a bowl .
• Use pitted kalamata olives or black olives and assemble them on top of your vegetables.
• Season with a dash of kosher salt and dried oregano. I like to finish with a bit more dried oregano at the end.
• Drizzle with good extra virgin olive oil and a splash of red wine vinegar. OR, place bottles of oil and vinegar on the table so that each person can dress the salad to their liking.
• Add blocks of feta on top.
• Serve immediately!

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You May Like: Low Calorie Greek Salad Dressing

Why Youll Love This Greek Salad Dressing:

• Quick: Make this delicious homemade Greek dressing recipe in only 5-minutes
• Minimal Ingredients: This is the best Greek salad dressing is made with less than 10 ingredients
• Versatility: Versatile and can be used on any salad, veggies, or even as a marinade
• Flavor: This homemade greek dressing recipe will add a pop of zesty flavor to your salad. Im obsessed!

How To Make Homemade Caesar Dressing:

In a medium sized bowl, whisk all ingredients together. Or you can combine all ingredients in a mason jar and give it a nice shake until combined so you dont have to dirty a bowl! Add a touch more olive oil if needed to get the desired consistency. Store in fridge in a mason jar or air tight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Makes 1 cup.

This Mediterranean Vinaigrette is so good youre going to want to eat it by the spoonful! Ill give you options on how to make it with fresh herbs and dried herbs and vegan options as well!

What youll need to make a Mediterranean/Greek Vinaigrette:

• Red Wine Vinegar
• Want to make it a creamy dressing? Whisk in 3 Tbsp. Greek yogurt!

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How To Make An Authentic Greek Dressing Recipe

First, start with the best quality olive oil you can afford . This will serve as the base of your dressing.

Next, the vinegar. I dont think I realized how DELICIOUS red wine vinegar is until I made this salad dressing! Officially my new favorite type of vinegar. This brand is really really good.

Also, garlic is key! To make prep time faster, use a garlic press instead of mincing the garlic by hand. My pampered chef garlic press has seen plenty of use over the years, and its the best quality one Ive tried.

Just add olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, dijon mustard and herbs to a medium sized jar and shake, shake, shake! This will emulsify your dressing perfectly. Or, you can whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl.

The addition of dijon mustard is totally optional and just gives the greek dressing an extra kick. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I dont. Its wonderful either way.

Read Also: Best Extra Virgin Olive Oil For Salad Dressing

How To Make Healthy Delicious Salad Dressing

• Frequently Asked Questions

Instead of purchasing pre-made salad dressings, you can make your own with a few fresh, nutritious ingredients. Homemade dressings require little effort to create. In fact, all that is required is a little imagination.

You can mix a tasty concoction with as few as three ingredients. Or, you can combine more, depending on your taste preferences. All you need is a healthy fat for a base, and then you can choose vinegar or citrus fruits to give it an acidic punch. Next, you will add herbs, spices, and seasonings.

Aside from creating something delicious and fresh, making your own salad dressing also allows you to control how much salt, sugar, and other ingredients you include in your diet. For instance, salad dressings sold in grocery stores sometimes contain unnatural preservatives or stabilizers.

They also may contain flavors and ingredients that you may be allergic to or want to limit in your diet. Here is what you need to know about creating a healthy, delicious salad dressing.

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What Ingredients Do I Need For These Dressings

Below, Im sharing fifteen of my favorite simple, easy, and healthy salad dressing recipes that you can make at home. Honestly, you probably have most of the ingredients to make most of the dressings already in your pantry and fridgethere are no fancy pants ingredients that youll have to track down at a specialty store.

For most salad dressings, youll need:

• Something acidic. Lemon juice, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or white wine vinegar are all good choices.
• Some fat. Oil is a standard ingredient in most vinaigrette-style dressings. With a few exceptions , you want a mildly-flavored oil that wont stand out in the dressing. Extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil are my favorites.
• Something sweet. A little sweetness can bring all the flavors together and round out the dressing. Honey is my go-to, but maple syrup, agave, or even a bit of granulated sugar will work as well.
• Salt, pepper, garlic, and other herbs and spices. Salt and pepper will enhance the flavor of the other ingredientsdont skip them where they are called for!

All of these recipes can be made using the jar-and-shake method. Just grab a jar with a tight-fitting lid , toss in all the ingredients, and shake the dickens out of it until its well-blended. There are a couple of recipes below that could be made smoother if you use a food processor or a blenderbut you dont have to if youre fine with a chunkier dressing.

What Makes Greek Salad Dressing So Special

This Greek salad dressing is special, yall. Because of the acidic, herby flavor, Greek dressing, in general, is one of my very favorites, but this recipe totally levels up any store-bought Greek dressing that Ive had! The use of fresh lemon juice here really takes the finished product over the edge.

I love using this dressing on salads , but its also especially delicious as a marinade for your favorite protein or just drizzled over already grilled chicken, steak, or shrimp!

Recommended Reading: How To Make Deviled Egg Potato Salad

How To Make Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing

Let’s talk about how to make healthy homemade salad dressing.

Whether you love salads or simply them for health reasons, theyre an easily customizable dish that can fit any diet.

They are also an incredible way to help you boost your intake of vegetables.

Salads can be a side dish or a complete meal when topped with a good source of protein and healthy fat. And no salad is complete without dressing – after all, the dressing is what melds a salad base with all the toppings.

Although there are some good store-bought salad dressing options available, I love to advocate for learning how to make your own healthy homemade salad dressing.

The Best Way To Store A Vinaigrette

Store vinaigrettes in a jar or other container with a tight lid so that its easy to shake it up again when you need it. If you made a basic vinaigrette with just olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper, you can stash it on the counter or in the cupboard for several weeks. If any of the ingredients in your vinaigrette were previously refrigerated or are fresh, like lemon juice or minced shallots, then store it in the refrigerator up to five days.

Also Check: Jason’s Deli Broccoli Salad

Why Make Homemade Greek Salad Dressing

I love homemade salad dressings because they taste far superior to store-bought, plus theyre a lot healthier. Grocery store dressings tend to have lots of processed oils, additives, sugars, MSG, etc. Homemade is definitely the way to go!

And homemade dressing is so easy to make, why wouldnt you? Only five extra minutes and you can enjoy it for a couple of weeks .

Chopped Salad Recipe Ingredients

Heres what youll need to make this chopped salad recipe:

• Iceberg lettuce and radicchio They create the salads fresh, crisp base. The green and red leaves are so pretty together!
• Red onion For crunch and sharp, oniony flavor.
• Cherry tomatoes With all that crisp lettuce and onion, you need something juicy to balance them out.
• Chickpeas Try roasting them for extra crunch!
• Pearl mozzarella and provolone cheese Why use one cheese when you could use two? I love the contrast of the soft mozzarella and the firm provolone.
• Pepperoncini With their tangy, spicy flavor, they take this chopped salad to a whole new level!
• A lemon vinaigrette This simple vinaigrette is like a homemade version of Italian dressing. Made with lemon juice, red wine vinegar, shallot, garlic, and dried oregano, its bright, tangy, and super easy to whisk together.
• Dried oregano This simple, delicious garnish fills the whole salad with fresh Italian flavor.

Gaby also calls for cubed Genoa salami, but I skip it to make this recipe vegetarian. Instead, I season it with a few generous pinches of salt while assembling. That way, I dont miss the meat at all! You could also replace the salami with chopped sun-dried tomatoes or roasted red peppers. Let me know what variations you try!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Whisk together the salad dressing ingredients, chop up the veggies, and toss to combine! Trust me, youre going to love this one.

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