Under the heat of summer the last thing you want to do is turn on the stove or oven. If you’re like us, the summer weather plus the abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs will have you eating plenty of salads. One way to add variety to your salads is to switch up your dressings.
Photo: Jules
Making salad dressing is so simple. You know exactly what you’re putting into it and can customize it to what you like and have in your pantry. Plus, you can make however much you need for a week. No more wasting half a bottle of store bought dressing that you never really liked in the first place.
To make these dressings, add the listed ingredients into a bowl and whisk them together. Or, to take it on the go, put them all in a jar and shake it up. Once they’re mixed, it’s best to let the dressing sit for a little while so the flavors have a chance to meld.
Photo: jefferyw
To make sure your dressings taste delicious, take a piece of lettuce and dip it into the dressing. This will give you a better idea of how your salad will taste once it is complete. Tasting the dressing on its own will be much too strong.
Basic Vinaigrette
The basic vinaigrette is the easiest to get started with. All you need to remember is the 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar. You can use any kind of oil and vinegar that you may have on hand. Mix different kinds and see which version is your favorite.
3 tbsp oil
1 tbsp vinegar (white, cider, wine, balsamic)
salt & pepper to taste
Italian Salad Dressing
This Italian salad dressing is a variation on the basic vinaigrette. Additional spices, mustard and honey gives it a completely different flavour. You can use premixed Italian seasoning or if you have a large collection of dried spices, you can mix your own using your favorite herbs.
1 cup neutral salad oil, such as canola
1/4 cup vinegar (white wine, red wine, cider, salad, etc)
1 large garlic clove, pressed
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme, marjoram, etc)
Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Soy Garlic Asian Salad Dressing
This dressing perfectly combines the sweet, savory, sour and spicy (if desired), flavours synonymous with Asian cuisines.
3 tbsp rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp garlic crushed
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp sesame oil
Sriracha or chili flakes, to taste, if desired
Honey Mustard
A simplified version of honey mustard, but completely delicious. The tangy mustard is balanced with the sweetness of the honey and creaminess of the mayonnaise. For a healthier version, substitute mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.
¼ cup mayonnaise / Greek yogurt
1 tbsp mustard
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp lemon juice
Creamy Salad Dressing
A healthier version of Ranch, this dressing is smooth and creamy for when you’re craving something on the richer side. Like the honey mustard dressing, you can substitute the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise / Greek yogurt
pinch salt
pinch sugar
few grinds fresh pepper
1 tbsp champagne vinegar
Are you eating a lot of salads this summer? What are your favorite salad dressings?
