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Salad Dressing Recipe Template

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Five basic ingredients are needed for building a salad dressing.

Anything beyond five ingredients is entirely up to you, and your taste buds. Additional ingredients are accessories that personalize a dressing for a particular dish. It only takes a matter of minutes to make a salad dressing, and in doing so, you can control the quality of your ingredients as well as the quantity.

pouring salad dressing over a green salad

My goodness, when was the last time you allowed your eyes to scan over the nutritional label on a jar of manufactured dressing, as well as the ingredient list? It is common to find more than twenty different ingredients listed, half of which turn into a Hooked on Phonics game in trying to pronounce them. Then you end up standing in the middle of the aisle to Google on your smartphone as to what they are. To top it off they charge high prices for these lab-produced chemical products.

I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try making a few of your own. You might surprise yourself. Trust me; you are listening to a woman who didn’t dare move beyond using cinnamon, salt, and pepper. No longer do I fear spices. I look them square in the eye with confidence, experiment with them, and create dressings that make my taste buds sing.

Five Ingredients / Five Categories

Below you will find the five ingredients broken down into five categories, along with a few examples to help you get your thought process moving. Choose one from each group and then tailor it with added ingredients to create the flavor you desire.

Five Base Ingredient Categories

Added Ingredients

making-salad-dressing-1

Tips:

  1. Add water when possible to most dressings to allow for the use of less oil.
  2. Avocados are an excellent substitution for oil.
    • There are fewer calories and fat grams if you are looking for a lower calorie alternative.
    • If you use avocados, make sure to add them as the last ingredient.
    • If you over blend them, it can affect the flavor and texture.
  3. Always add the acids last because that will make the dressings thicker and creamier.
  4. Using a blender will help you achieve a creamier dressing but if you don’t have access to one a mason jar will work. Just add your ingredients, put the lid on and shake away.
  5. Creamy dressings will stick to the greens in your salad better and prevent a puddle in the bottom of your dish.
  6. Soaking nuts that you may use in your dressings are beneficial for a couple of reasons.
    • Soaking the seeds or nuts releases the enzyme inhibitors making them easier to digest.
    • Soaking the seeds or nuts will help to soften them a bit for blending purposes and will help to avoid a gritty dressing.
  7. The addition of a little mustard helps to bind oil and vinegar together, making for a more stable emulsion.
  8. The ratio for a vinaigrette is typically three parts oil to one part vinegar or lemon juice, etc.

salad-dressing-in-a-mason-jarDressing your salads:

  1. Leafy salads should always be dressed at the last possible minute.
  2. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of thoroughly drying all salad ingredients before dressing them. The best dressing in the world can’t save a salad if the greens haven’t been thoroughly dried. Invest in a salad spinner; it is essential kitchen equipment.
  3. Bold greens such as peppery arugula or bitter chicory are best paired with an equally assertive dressing; e.g., balsamic vinaigrette.
  4. Tender, mild lettuces — butter or Bibb lettuces or baby greens, for instance — are best treated with more delicacy. Lemon juice or a mild vinegar such as white wine, champagne or rice wine is most appropriate.
  5. Romaine and other crisp, mildly flavored lettuces have an affinity for creamy dressings. Similarly, stronger flavored, fleshier greens beg for a more generous hand with the dressing; greens more delicate in flavor and substance are better when lightly dressed.
  6. When purchasing your greens, a heavier head indicates freshness. Look for crisp leaves; there shouldn’t be any bruising or browning. Look at the base of the greens, there shouldn’t be much browning, if there is, it means that it has been sitting around after harvesting.

Side note about fats: Fruit and vegetables are good sources of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, and fiber. Many of these nutrients (e.g., beta-carotene, vitamin D, and vitamin E) are fat soluble, and their absorption is enhanced when consumed with a small number of healthy fats. Add a small amount of healthy oil (e.g., extra virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil) to the salad dressing or while cooking, or include other healthy fat sources such as avocado, coconut, nuts or seeds. 

A word on reducing oils:

Template Examples:

Here are some examples of combinations that can be made but don’t limit yourself to them. These dressings are all made in a blender.

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14 thoughts on “Salad Dressing Recipe Template

  1. Veronica Mella says:

    This website is absolutely delightful! A wealth of information.

  2. Ruth says:

    Thanks so much for these basics. I’ve been using a base with apple cider vinegar so it’s good to have some variety :)

  3. Eva says:

    Hi Amie Sue – thanks for all the info! Just wondering if you had any advice on ratios? For example, how many tsps/tbsp of oils/fats to acids or salts. I always find that when creating a dressing I need to tweak it several times before it turns out just right. Any advice?

    • amie-sue says:

      Ratios can be tricky Eva… it will always depend on what ingredients are being used and how well they combine. If making an oil and vinegar based dressing, I use 3:1 (3= oil and 1 = vinegar). But often times I might use 50/50. Just depends. The types of salad leafs will cause your dressing to require tweaking too… like arugula which is a spicier lettuce.

      I am afraid that if you are creating a new dressing for yourself, it will always be by making adjustments. Keep a pen and paper next to you while you do so and write everything down. Start with lessor amounts and add as needed, making those notes on your paper. Salts are always a personal thing. If salt tolerances vary at your table, season individual servings with finishing salt.

      I hope that helps a little. Blessings, amie sue

  4. Margaret says:

    I have been listening and learning about raw foods and impressed with your wonderful site. I will be starting to introduce a few dishes at a time and see how I go.
    Thanks again for the information.

    Marg S

    • amie-sue says:

      Thank you Margaret. I hope that you mind great inspiration through out my site. Never hesitate to ask questions, I will do my best to help. amie sue

  5. Carla says:

    Just trying to eat more healthy. A friend posted your link on FB and within second I had already “pinned” 2 recipes.

  6. Chaya says:

    hi amie..i wanted to ask you ..what kind of flavours can we make in almond and brazil nut milk..and which milk is best
    to make coffee.

    • amie-sue says:

      Oh my Chaya, You can make any flavor that appeals to! For coffee, I would lean towards nuts that don’t have a strong flavor within themselves such as almonds, cashes, macadamia or even Brazil nuts. You can then add flavored extracts; vanilla, almond, hazelnuts, etc. :) have fun playing around it! amie sue

  7. Stacey says:

    You and your website ROCK!
    We have been raw vegans for almost a year now due to my husbands health. We were in a rut. What a breath of fresh YUMMY air you are.
    Love everything we have tried so far! Thank you for being here Amie-sue!

    • amie-sue says:

      Thank you Stacey. I appreciate that you took the time to share this with me. :) I am thrilled that you are finding recipes to help keep you on track with your healthy eating. Blessings and hugs, amie sue

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