Basic Vinaigrette Dressing With 8 Variations

Prep Time: 5 Minutes

Cook Time: 10 Minutes

Ready In: 15 Minutes

Servings: 4

Bottled salad dressing can be convenient but its expensive and often full of salt, sugar, and chemical additives. Making your own is simple and allows you to customize the seasonings to suit whatever meal you are preparing. The amounts given make about 1/4 cup and can be expanded infinitely for larger salads. It can be made several days ahead and kept in the fridge. Sorry about the slightly odd way of putting the ingredients for the creamy dressing variations. The recipe editor is picky about what it will accept.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons oil (i prefer extra-virgin olive oil)

2 tablespoons vinegar (white, cider, wine, ..., not balsamic)

salt

black pepper (i prefer fresh-ground)

basic vinaigrette (use evoo and red wine vinegar)

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning

1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

basic vinaigrette (use canola or corn oil and cider vinegar)

1 tablespoon crumbled bacon

1/2 tablespoon finely minced onion

1 pinch celery seed (optional)

1/4 teaspoon prepared mustard (optional)

1 -3 teaspoon brown sugar or 1 -3 teaspoon another sweetener, to taste

italian vinaigrette

1 teaspoon prepared mustard (i recommend dijon or spicy brown)

1 -3 teaspoon honey (optional) or 1 -3 teaspoon another sweetener, to taste (optional)

basic vinaigrette

2 -3 tablespoons mayonnaise or 2 -3 tablespoons sour cream or 2 -3 tablespoons plain yogurt

basic creamy vinaigrette dressing

1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (to taste)

basic creamy vinaigrette dressing

1 garlic clove, put through press

fresh ground black pepper

1 pinch italian seasoning (optional)

3 tablespoons olive oil (i prefer extra-virgin)

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

3 tablespoons oil (i prefer extra-virgin olive oil)

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 pinch italian seasoning (optional)

Directions:

1. Shake all ingredients for your chosen variation together in a tightly-lidded container OR whisk together in a small bowl.
2. Let stand 10 minutes to rehydrate dried herbs and blend flavors.
3. Shake again then dress salad as desired.
4. Note - I recommend the lemon dressing on spinach.
5. Note - I recommend the Bacon Dressing, Mustard Dressing, and Balsamic Vinaigrette on strong greens such as escarole, curly endive, and dandelion greens.
6. Note - The sweeter version of the mustard dressing is great for a vinegar coleslaw if you discover that you have accidentally gotten one of those occasional cabbages that are a touch on the bitter side.
7. Note - feel free to play with other seasonings, more complex blends, flavored oils, and flavored vinegars. Once you've learned the technique you can customize your salad dressing to suit just about any meal.

By RecipeOfHealth.com