Cooking

How to make your own salad dressings

Do you find it hard to prepare your own dressing and to find the right balance in the ingredients? In this blog I try to explain. Tip: when you create a dressing you like you can make a bigger batch and keep it in a well sealed jar to use several times over a few days.

The oil

The base starts with a good oil. I always choose a lighter style of olive oil because I find the extra virgin olive oil can be rather dominant - however it's your choice.

The acidic counter 

In addition to oil, you also need an acidic counterpart. Choose from various types such as white wine vinegar or raspberry vinegar, but also think about using fresh lemon, lime or even orange juice. Experiment with all the variations so that you finally come to your own favourite recipe.

The perfect balance

There is a handy golden rule to maintan the right ratio balance. It goes like this: 1 part of the dressing is vinegar (or another acidic option) to 3 parts of the oil. That's always the base, which you can djust and add extra flavours as I explain below.

Extra flavours

If you like a slightly creamy dressing you can add a little mayonnaise or yogurt. For an Asian style salad add some finely sliced red chili, freshly grated ginger and soy sauce. Or for a delicious variation try a spoonful of avocado, tahini or some fresh herb.

A little sweetness

Add a dash of extra sweetness with honey or sugar which is of course optional and to taste. 

Go to our top 5 best dressing recipes for even more dressing inspiration. Have fun in the kitchen!