Recession Proof Salad: Easy Homemade Vinaigrette Recipes

Meal Monday

This is a good time of year for salad. Fresh ingredients abound, it's too hot to cook, and we're trying to fit into that dress we wore to our friend's wedding 3 years ago so we don't have to go out and buy a new one for the next wedding. I'm not really one of those salad-crazed people (I had a friend in college who ate plain iceberg lettuce at dinner every day!), but the variety and freshness of raw veggies and fruits this time of year is too good to pass up.

Unfortunately, nothing ruins a well-composed salad faster than mediocre dressing from a bottle. And for me, almost all dressing from a bottle is mediocre or worse. The taste is never quite on, and most of them tend to overwhelm a lot of salad ingredients. This might be a good thing in winter when salad ingredients come off a refrigerated truck that's traveled thousands of miles and are pretty ho-hum (I hate salad in the winter!), but at the peak of summer's bounty I want a dressing that complements my ingredients, not overwhelms them.

I started making my own dressing a few years ago and have found that it is easy, cheap and delicious. It's preservative free and made of better quality ingredients than even the best store-bought dressing. I never run out because I always have the basic ingredients on hand, and it's easy to tweak if I want something a little lighter or zestier or herbier or whatever. And best of all, you can make a lot at once and stick it in the fridge, so it's hardly any extra work. So go Martha and make your own dressing!

Emily's Everyday Homemade Vinaigrette

What you need:

1/8 cup red wine vinegar

1/8 balsamic vinegar 

pinch of salt

3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

What to do:

Combine! 

Note: If you want the dressing to stay emulsified (that is, all mixed together) for any length of time, you should add the olive oil last, pouring a steady stream into the vinegar while whisking very vigorously. You can keep your bowl in place by putting it inside another bowl padded with a dish towel or two. Even better, add 1/4 tsp. of mayo before whisking in the oil. Something about the egg proteins keep the dressing emulsified for longer.

I mix my dressing in the Chef n' Salad Dressing Emulsifier, and skip the whisking step (who has the patience for that?!). It is such a gadget and I am not a gadget person, but I received it as a gift and it is darn handy. I make dressing in it, stick the whole think in the fridge, and when I need it I just mix it up and pour!

Or you can go old school, combine all the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid, and then shake the crap out of it. This approach can be a good emotional outlet at the end of a long day.

Variations:

Honey-dijon vinaigrette: Add 2 tsp. each of dijon mustard and honey

Herb vinaigrette: Add a 1-2 tbsp. of very finely chopped fresh herbs. Basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, or dill would all be good.

Shallot or garlic vinaigrette: Add 2 tbsp. finely chopped shallots or one small clove coarsely chopped garlic

Light vinaigrette: Use all red wine vinegar and leave out the balsamic. To really go light replace the vinegar with lemon juice. This one is a good idea for super mild greens like baby lettuce and butterhead lettuce.

A final few words-- For spinach salad and the like there is nothing as good as a delicious homemade lemon-tahini salad dressing.

Think outside the bowl when making salads. It's not all about chopped carrots and cucumbers! Try some of these: Dried cranberries, cherries, or apricots; Goat, Feta or Parmesan cheese; Toasted sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pecans, walnuts or cashews; Roasted red peppers; Artichoke hearts; Beans or tofu; Sprouts; Roasted corn; Grilled peaches or apples; Roasted or pickled beets. 

Other great salad ideas? Post a comment to share with the rest of us. Thanks! And happy eating!

Comments

[Zack R]

It's not 100% homemade, but I also really like Good Seasons Italian. That's the one where they provide the dry spice, and you add oil and vinegar. Good olive oil and vinegar make all the difference.

Also, I've seen Emily's dressing emulsifier gizmo. It's neat. And could also be used to mix up very small cups to Ovaltine or Tang. I am told that Tang is the beverage of astronauts.