Salad Dressing serves as a flavorful and smooth accompaniment that enhances the overall taste of your salads. This light all-purpose homemade dressing features a combination of olive oil, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, along with essential seasonings and herbs. It's a simple yet effective way to elevate the flavors of your daily salads, making them a delightful side dish for lunch or dinner.
The following recipe provides clear and easy-to-follow instructions for making salad dressing from scratch. To further assist you, there's a comprehensive video guide that visually demonstrates the process.
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What is Salad Dressing?
Salad Dressing serves as a tangy, aromatic, and highly delicious condiment, specially created to enhance the overall taste of salads. It is made with staple ingredients like olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, and a choice between lemon juice or vinegar, complemented by a medley of basic seasonings and fragrant herbs. What truly sets it apart is its remarkable ease of preparation, coming together effortlessly in just 10 minutes.
While there are specialized dressings tailored for specific salad types, there are moments when you crave a dressing that not only tastes exquisite but also blends effortlessly with a variety of salads. That's where our homemade Salad Dressing steps in. Crafted from basic pantry ingredients, it's a flavorful dressing that pairs perfectly with most salads, elevating your lunch or dinner.
So, seize the opportunity to transform your salads into culinary treats with this simple everyday dressing. Whip it up quickly using items you likely already have at home, and make your meals not only appetizing but also time-efficient.
Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients you will need for making this Salad Dressing are basic pantry items that you might already have at home. Let's take a look at them below.
- Olive Oil: Serves as the heart of the dressing, providing a smooth and rich base. Its fruity and slightly peppery notes add depth and a smooth texture to the dressing
- Dijon Mustard: It brings a subtle tanginess and a hint of spiciness to the dressing. It acts as an emulsifier, ensuring the elements blend seamlessly
- Honey: It offers a touch of natural sweetness that balances out the acidity of the lemon juice. It adds a pleasant and balanced sweetness to the dressing
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice provides a vibrant and zesty kick, infusing the dressing with a refreshing citrusy brightness
- Garlic: It contributes a bold, savory depth with its aromatic and slightly pungent flavor
- Chili Flakes and Black Pepper: These spices introduce a gentle heat and a peppery bite that enhance the dressing, adding a subtle kick and depth of flavor
- Dried Herbs (Oregano, Basil, and Parsley Leaves): The dried herbs bring an earthy, herbal essence to the mix. Oregano offers a robust, Mediterranean touch. Basil lends a sweet, aromatic note, and parsley adds a fresh, green element. Together, they infuse the dressing with layers of herbaceous goodness
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Salad Dressing at Home?
The recipe I've shared here is for Homemade Salad Dressing, a tangy and flavorful condiment crafted from a blend of olive oil, honey, garlic, lemon juice, basic seasonings, and herbs. Whisked to perfection, it's ready to infuse your favorite salads with rich, delicious flavor.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Add the ingredients: To make this homemade Salad Dressing, gather all the elements listed in the recipe, like olive oil, honey, garlic, lemon juice, seasonings, and herbs
- Mix together: Using a whisk, thoroughly blend these ingredients until they're nicely combined. Now, your salad dressing is good to go for serving on your salads
- Use or store: This dressing has the power to enhance the taste of your favorite salads. Whether it's a classic garden salad or a flavorful Caesar, this versatile dressing can elevate their flavors. Plus, you can make it ahead of time and keep it fresh in the refrigerator for up to two days. Just remember to store it in a sealed airtight container
Tips
- Balancing Flavors: Taste as you go and adjust the amounts of honey, lemon juice, and spices to achieve the right balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors to suit your preference
- Whisk Thoroughly: Whisk the ingredients thoroughly to ensure they emulsify well, creating a smooth and cohesive dressing
- Garlic Intensity: Be mindful of the garlic; if you prefer a milder garlic flavor, use less, or if you love a robust garlic taste, you can add more
- Chili Flakes Heat: Control the spiciness by adjusting the amount of chili flakes to your desired level of heat
- Herbs Infusion: Allow the dried herbs to infuse the dressing by letting it sit for a while before using, enhancing the herbal essence
- Experiment: Feel free to experiment with ingredient ratios and additional herbs or spices to create a dressing that perfectly suits your taste buds
- For Extended Shelf Life: To ensure your dressing stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, consider using vinegar instead of lemon juice and garlic powder instead of grated garlic in your recipe. This alteration will help preserve the dressing longer without compromising the flavors
Storage Suggestions
Storing your Salad Dressing is easy, and it can stay fresh for a good while. To keep it at its best, simply place it in an airtight container. This helps create a tight seal that prevents any unwanted air from sneaking in, which could affect its quality. Once it's securely sealed, pop the container into your refrigerator.
This quick refrigeration step is essential for maintaining the dressing's freshness. By keeping it cold, you ensure that it stays flavorful and safe to use for up to two days. However, if you'd like to extend its shelf life to two weeks, I recommend using vinegar in place of lemon juice and garlic powder instead of freshly grated garlic.
Serving Suggestions
Simple this all-purpose everyday Salad Dressing pairs with a variety of salads wonderfully. Here are some delectable pairings:
- Greek Salad: A Greek Salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and red onions with fresh greens. The simple everyday Salad Dressing adds a tangy touch, boosting the Mediterranean flavors
- Cobb Salad: This hearty salad features lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and blue cheese. The everyday dressing enhances the robust flavors, making it a satisfying meal
- Caesar Salad: A classic Caesar Salad consists of romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese. The dressing adds creamy, garlicky, and tangy notes, elevating the simple ingredients
- Pasta Salad: Comprising pasta, veggies, olives, and cheese, this salad gets a zesty boost from the dressing, creating a flavorful dish perfect for picnics
- Fruit Salad: A refreshing mix of fresh fruits like strawberries, melon, and citrus segments is elevated by the dressing's tangy and slightly sweet essence, making it a delightful dessert or snack
Related Recipes
You can also find similar dressing recipes below and more at dips & condiment recipes and salad recipes.
- Vinaigrette
- Honey Mustard Dressing
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Ranch Dressing
- Italian Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Coleslaw Dressing
- Fruit Salad Dressing
Salad Dressing Recipe Video
I've also shared a detailed video of this Salad Dressing recipe below, which I hope will assist you in making a simple everyday dressing for your salads. You can also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup Olive Oil
- 1½ tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1 tbsp Honey, or maple syrup
- 1 tsp Garlic, grated or garlic powder
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice, vinegar
- ¼ tsp Dried Oregano
- ¼ tsp Dried Basil
- ¼ tsp Dried Parsley
- ½ tsp Black Pepper Powder
- ½ tsp Chili Flakes
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
To make Salad Dressing
- Add all the ingredients listed in the recipe card, including olive oil, honey, garlic, lemon juice, seasonings, and herbs into a bowl
- Use a whisk to blend everything thoroughly until it's nicely mixed together. Your everyday Salad Dressing is now ready to serve on salads
To Serve
- You can use this homemade Salad Dressing to enhance the flavors of your favorite salads. Keep in mind that it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days in a sealed airtight container
Video
Notes
- Balancing Flavors: Taste as you go and adjust the amounts of honey, lemon juice, and spices to achieve the right balance of sweet, tangy, and savory flavors to suit your preference
- Whisk Thoroughly: Whisk the ingredients thoroughly to ensure they emulsify well, creating a smooth and cohesive dressing
- Garlic Intensity: Be mindful of the garlic; if you prefer a milder garlic flavor, use less, or if you love a robust garlic taste, you can add more
- Chili Flakes Heat: Control the spiciness by adjusting the amount of chili flakes to your desired level of heat
- Herbs Infusion: Allow the dried herbs to infuse the dressing by letting it sit for a while before using, enhancing the herbal essence
- Experiment: Feel free to experiment with ingredient ratios and additional herbs or spices to create a dressing that perfectly suits your taste buds
- Extended Shelf Life: To ensure your dressing stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator, consider using vinegar instead of lemon juice and garlic powder instead of grated garlic in your recipe. This alteration will help preserve the dressing longer without compromising the flavors
Nutrition
FAQ
Yes, it's perfect for daily use, especially when you want a light yet flavorful dressing to enhance the taste of your salads.
Yes, using vinegar imparts a slightly more acidic taste compared to lemon juice, but it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients without overpowering the overall flavor.
Yes, you can certainly make this dressing by combining both vinegar and lemon juice for a delightful balance of flavors. I recommend beginning with an equal ratio of 1 part lemon juice to 1 part vinegar when combining both ingredients. This balanced proportion serves as an excellent starting point for flavor. You can then fine-tune the ratio to align with your specific taste preferences.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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