Dressing your Salads Simply

Dressing your Salads Simply

Karen
Are you always looking for new inspiration for dressings for your salads?

Do you taste salads made by others and need to know what that yummy dressing is?

It seems to be an endless search in my world, to find new and interesting tasting dressings to smarten up my salads. There are so many recipes for dressings but getting around to making and trying them all is a challenge. I am one of those annoying people who soon gets bored when the same dressing is used too often.


Salad Greens


Simplicity is an important concept in my kitchen and includes knowing the ingredients are readily available in your pantry or fridge. Being able to whip up a dressing in just a couple of minutes led me to this latest find for vinaigrettes and its proving to be quick and easy so I thought I would share.


Changing quantities is easy as long as you stay with the basic rule:

3 parts Oil TO 1 part Vinegar and/or Lemon juice


BASIC RECIPE

  • 1/2 cup good quality oil (olive, sunflower or rice bran work well)
  • 1 TBsp vinegar (cider, wine or balsamic)
  • 2 TBsp lemon juice (or lime)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cracked pepper
  1. Measure all the above ingredients into a jar or container with a lid.
  2. Give it a good shake and you are all ready to go.
  3. For larger quantities, mix with a blender or stick mixer.

Shaker



Any leftover dressing will keep in the fridge for a long time. The flavours will improve and blend when left for a few days. Just give it a good shake each time, before use.


Now try some additions and replacement of ingredients. Here are some of the combinations I have tried and liked. These should all be added to suit your tastes and they can be mixed and matched as much as you like to come up with your own combinations.

ALTERNATIVES

Use fruit vinegar in basic recipe (blackberry, cherry, raspberry)

Add 1-3 tsp of Wholegrain Mustard

Add 1TBsp of Honey & 1 tsp Wholegrain Mustard

Add 1tsp crushed garlic

Add 1TBsp pesto

Add 1TBsp toasted Sesame seeds

Use lime juice in basic recipe & add 1tsp fresh grated ginger & a pinch of chilli

Use orange juice in basic recipe & add 1tsp orange zest

Add chopped olives & 1tsp crushed garlic

Add chopped capers & 1tsp crushed garlic

Add 1/2cup plain yoghurt (Greek is good), 1TBsp chopped mint & 1tsp lemon zest

Add 2TBsp chopped toasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts)

Add 1TBsp tahini & chopped toasted nuts
These are just for starters. Have fun experimenting.

Basil Dressing

The dressing pictured above is my favourite for the moment. The colour is vibrant and it tastes wonderful, particularly if you are a big basil fan like me. The recipe is:
  1. Make up basic dressing with 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar & 3/4 cup olive oil
  2. Add 1TBsp basil pesto
  3. Add zest of 1/2 a lemon
  4. Add 1tsp wholegrain mustard
After a good shake it is ready to go.


My other "go to" dressing is based on a cherry or blackberry vinegar. This is perfect when I want a fruity flavour. The recipe is:
  1. Make up basic dressing with 1/4 cup cherry balsamic vinegar & 3/4 cup olive oil
  2. Add 2 cloves crushed garlic
  3. Add 2tsp toasted sesame seeds

Shake and serve.

Vinegar Cider

Wow.........these dressings took me all of 5 minutes to make........that's perfect!!!
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