Learn the oil-to-vinegar ratio of any simple vinaigrette or creamy dressing and how to make homemade salad dressing. This post includes my best salad dressing recipes, all made from scratch in just a few minutes!
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Do you make your salad dressings? If not, now is a great time to start!
Years ago, when I was first learning to cook, a salad usually consisted of a bowl of mixed greens and a drizzle of store-bought dressing. Since I’ve discovered how ludicrously easy, quick, inexpensive, and delicious it is to make my dressings and vinaigrettes, salads have moved to centerstage in our meals.
It’s fun to try new combinations of ingredients and to invent a dressing that will complement them.
Summer salads are easy to make in the summer months when a variety of fresh produce is readily available. But winter salads can be just as colorful and nutritious! Try one of these 24 Best Winter Salad Recipes.
Homemade salad dressings take no more than five minutes to make and they require no special equipment. All you need to know are the five elements of any simple vinaigrette or creamy dressing.
5 elements of Homemade Salad Dressing
Oil: Start with a good quality extra virgin olive oil or other neutral-tasting oil. A traditional French vinaigrette recipe recommends an oil-to-acid ratio of 3:1 but I find that to be too much oil and prefer 2:1. This ratio is something you can tweak to your liking.
If you want extra gourmet flavor, add a little walnut or sesame oil to your mix. These oils are very strong-tasting, so a teaspoon is enough.
Acid: Add a vinegar of your choice, such as red wine, white wine, apple cider, or balsamic. I also like the citrus champagne vinegar you can find in the deli sections of supermarkets or in specialty stores. Sherry vinegar, like Capirette, is another alternative. I often supplement the vinegar with a little freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Sweetness: Sometimes you need to temper the acid with a bit of sweetness. You can always use refined sugar, but trying maple syrup, honey, or even fruit jams will add a more interesting flavor.
Salt: Not a lot. One of the advantages of making your dressings is that you can control the amount of sodium in your finished product.
Aromatics: Here’s where you get to be creative and think about flavors that complement each other. Try fresh herbs, garlic, lemon zest, finely chopped shallots, black pepper, or chili pepper. To make a creamy dressing, substitute mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, or Greek yogurt (or any of the low-fat versions of these) for some of the oil.
Making homemade dressing is easy
Simply combine and shake the ingredients in a small mason jar, or whisk in a measuring cup, or whir in a small blender or food processor. Let stand for 30 minutes or so to allow the flavors to blend. Store leftover dressings in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Salad topping ideas
Consider different toppings that will marry well with the greens and vegetables you have chosen:
- crumbled cheese (feta, blue, gorgonzola, parmesan, etc.)
- toasted nuts (walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, pistachios)
- candied nuts (pecans, walnuts) or raw or toasted seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)
- dried fruits (cranberries, raisins, cherries, apricots)
- fresh fruits (berries, diced apple, sliced peaches, nectarines, mango, cherries, melon . . . almost anything!)
- salted meats (crumbled bacon, crispy prosciutto or pancetta)
- roasted butternut squash or sweet potato cubes
- croutons or crumbled tortilla chips
You'll find several vinaigrette and salad dressing recipes as part of my salad recipe posts here on Flavour and Savour, but I've picked out a few of my favorites.
Favorite homemade salad dressing recipes
Everyday Honey Citrus Salad Dressing
Blackberry Balsamic Dressing
Hollyhock Nutritional Yeast Dressing
Avocado Green Goddess Dressing and Dip
Sesame Miso Vinaigrette and Marinade
Sweet Peach Salad Dressing
Simple Lemon Tahini Dressing
Dairy-Free Avocado Cream
Maple Balsamic Dressing
Ginger Orange Dressing
Quick Strawberry Vinaigrette
Greek Yogurt Gorgonzola Dressing and Dip
Looking for more salad ideas? Find more healthy recipes for salads and dressings!
Choose Summer Salads or Winter Salads!
- Thai-Style Coleslaw with Sesame Ginger Dressing
- Blackberry Spinach Salad with Blackberry Balsamic Dressing
- Roasted Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Nutritional Yeast Dressing
- Winter Persimmon Kale Salad
When you make one of these salad dressings, please leave a comment and a star rating below. I love hearing which ones are your favorites. Thanks in advance!
📖 Recipe
Basic Oil and Vinegar Dressing
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil, extra virgin
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- The basic ratio for oil and vinegar dressing is 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil. Use this as a guide, then tweak it to your preference. Add herbs and garlic, mustard, honey or maple syrup. Place all ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake until well emulsified. Let stand for 30 minutes, then give it a whisk before serving.
Cathy Bhandar
The Maple Balsamic dressing is my all time favorite and I always have a
bottle of it in the cupboard. I omit any garlic because then it would need to be
in frig and make sure to have lots of fresh ground pepper. We eat salads with most
dinners year round. . love your ideas, Elaine.
Elaine
Yes! I love that one, too! It goes with almost every salad.
Inocencia Troha
OK, this Is amazing. Keep up the good work. Appreciate all the efforts you put in here. Stay safe!
Elise
Thanks so much for this information. I've been buying bottled salad dressings for far too long. This week I made your Sesame Miso dressing (incredible) and your Green Goddess. Both are wonderful. Will definitely be making more of these!
Flavour & Savour
That's great to hear! You'll save so much money making your own.