Clockwise from top left: Pea Cabbage Mint and Parmesan Salad, Asian Vermicelli Noodle Salad, Green Goddess Dressing (recipe below), Coleslaw dressing (recipe below), Mrs Brodie’s Potato Salad, French Vinaigrette (recipe below) This is a handy quick reference for 20 Essential Salad Dressings – all simple ones. Unless otherwise indicated, simply combine the ingredients in a jar and shake well, or mix in a small bowl. Hope you find it handy!
Creamy Dressings
- Classic Balsamic Vinegar Makes 1/2 cup 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 1 tsp brown sugar 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/4 tsp salt Black pepper
- Zesty Sherry Vinaigrette Makes 1/2 cup 1 1/2 tbsp sherry vinegar Zest of half a lemon 2 tbsp lemon juice 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp caster sugar 1 garlic clove, crushed Salt and pepper
- Alton Brown’s Fat Free Honey Mustard Dressing Makes 2/3 cup 5 tbsp honey 3 tbsp Dijon mustard 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar* *Make sure you use rice wine vinegar, not rice vinegar
- Mustard Vinaigrette Makes 1/3 cup 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 tsp honey 2 tbsp white vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 tsp salt 1 garlic clove, minced
- Red Wine Vinaigrette Makes 1/3 cup 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp sugar (or honey) 1/2 tsp salt Black pepper
- Greek Salad Dressing Makes 1/2 cup 2 tbsp lemon juice 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tsp dried oregano 1/4 tsp salt Black pepper
- Italian Dressing Makes 1/2 cup 1/3 cup olive oil 3 1/2 tbsp vinegar (any) 1 garlic clove, minced 1 1/2 tsp fresh or dried herbs: oregano, parsley, basil* 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp salt 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese (or other hard cheese)* *Optional
- Asian Style Dressing Makes 1/3 cup 2 tbsp light soy sauce 2 tbsp rice wine vinegar^ 1 ½ tsp sugar 1 tbsp grapeseed oil (or any other neutral oil) 1 garlic clove, minced 1 birds eye chilli, finely minced* *Optional ^Make sure you use rice wine vinegar, or rice vinegar NOT rice wine (which has alcohol in it!)
- Thai Makes 3/4 cup 2 tbsp fish sauce 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp rice vinegar 6 tbsp lime juice 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 fresh red birds eye chilli, seeded and finely minced
- Classic Coleslaw Makes 1/2 cup 1/4 cup mayonnaise, preferably whole egg 1/4 cup sour cream or plain greek yoghurt 2 tbsp white vinegar 1 tsp mustard powder 1/2 tsp sugar 1/4 – 1/2 tsp salt Black pepper
- Classic Potato Salad Makes 2/3 cups 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/3 cup sour cream 1 tbsp horseradish cream* (or horseradish relish) Salt and pepper *Optional
- Caesar Salad Makes 1 1/2 cups 1 garlic clove, minced 2 anchovy fillets, very finely minced 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 cup mayonnaise, preferably whole egg 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese Milk, to adjust consistency 1/4 tsp salt Black pepper Blend until smooth.
- Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing Makes 1/3 cup 1/4 cup mayonnaise 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp honey 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- Thousand Island Dressing Makes 3/4 cup 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 tbsp tomato ketchup 1 tbsp white vinegar 2 tsp sugar 2 tsp sweet pickle relish 1 tsp white onion, finely minced 1/8 tsp salt Black pepper
- Blue Cheese Dressing Makes 1 cup 100g/3.5oz blue cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup buttermilk 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice or white wine vinegar 1/4 tsp salt Black pepper
- Feta Dressing Makes 3/4 cups 100g/3.5oz feta cheese 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup milk (or water) 1 tsp finely-chopped fresh oregano (or thyme) Salt and pepper, to taste Mash feta with olive oil and lemon juice until fairly smooth. Add other ingredients and mix until smooth. Season to taste – different types of feta have different saltiness. Adjust consistency as required with milk or water.
