Convenience food items definitely have their place in your fridge and pantry. Canned tomatoes make an excellent addition to chili’s and stews, canned corn and canned beans are great for tossing in salads, and pre-cut vegetables and fruit make snacks and weekday lunches and dinners that much easier. But when it comes to topping your salad, the pre-made bottled dressings just can’t compare to a homemade vinaigrette.
And you don’t need to be a mad scientist to create delicious salad dressings at home. It’s super simple and you can customize them exactly to your taste. Like things spicy? Add some hot pepper sauce. Feeling zingy? Add a shot of lemon or lime juice for an extra acid kick.
I like to make a jar full of my favorite dressing at the beginning of the week. Stored in the fridge it makes salad making that much easier!
Here are two of my favorite dressings — few ingredients, easily customizable, perfect for any lunch or dinner salad!
Basic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1/2 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 Tbsp honey
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 clove garlic (grated or minced)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Note
You can really use any combination of vinegars you like: sub red wine vinegar for the white, use all balsamic, or whatever you have floating around in your pantry.
Directions
1. | Combine vinegars, garlic, honey, and dijon mustard with a whisk. |
2. | Slowly whisk in olive oil until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. |
3. | You can also add all the ingredients to a jar and shake until combined. |
This basic vinaigrette is a perfect go to for your favorite mixed green salad. It also works excellent as a marinade for chicken or fish and is great as a topper for bean salads!
Maple Mustard Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Shallot minced
- 1 Tbsp grainy mustard
Directions
1. | Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. |
The sweetness of this dressing goes so well with a green salad topped with some candied nuts, dried cranberries, and mango.
These easy dressings will actually have you craving salad and finding excuses to mix up a bowl of greens…trust me!
Dara
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Anonymous says
Two great dressing recipes.Best feature for me is that they are both ‘easy’ to assemble with quite simple ingredients. These are both ‘A’ rated in MY book! I know when I combine the ingredients,I definitely ‘will NOT’ be disappointed.Thank you!