Salads are an easy way to eat vegetables and there are countless different recipes that appeal to all tastes.
Served as a starter or as a main course, salads are a great way to eat healthy. But one thing makes all the difference in the tastes of your salads: the vinaigrette!
Some of us are happy to buy ready-made dressings to pour over our veggies in an instant. However, there are so many ways to make your salad more palatable, by making your own salad dressings and using only a few ingredients that you probably already have at home.
After discovering the recipes below, it's a safe bet you'll never buy or settle for ready-made ever again, always opting for getting creative in seasoning your salad!
Here are seven recipes of vinaigrettes, none better than the other, that will likely inspire you to create your own!
Garlic and lemon vinaigrette
If you want a flavor with more citrus, mix a quarter cup of olive oil with half a cup of lemon juice and stir in a few cloves of minced garlic.
Photo: Pxhere.com
Oil and vinegar
Here is the simplest vinaigrette ever! Inspired by Italian cuisine, this dressing could be suitable for a wide variety of salads. To make your vinaigrette, simply pour one part of olive oil to two parts of vinegar and mix. To give a little more taste, you can even add your own spices, like paprika.
Photo: Fotolia
Fresh herb vinaigrette
On To a base of olive oil and red wine, add 1/4 cup of your choice of fresh herbs. Classic herbs such as basil, coriander and parsley are a safe bet, but do not hesitate to get creative and choose your herbs based on the content of your salad!
Photo: Flickr
Apple cider vinaigrette
If you like sweet and sour flavors, using apple cider vinegar is a great way to delight your palette! Measure a third of a cup of olive oil and mix it with a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar. You can also add a little honey and two teaspoons of Dijon mustard. For even more flavor, add a few drops of soy sauce to the mixture.
Photo: Flickr
Tahini vinaigrette
To give a Mediterranean touch to your salad, mix half a cup of lemon juice with an equivalent amount of Tahini. Add a pinch of salt and voilà! For an explosion of flavors, complete the recipe with paprika and cumin.
Photo: Wikimedia
Greek yogurt vinaigrette
If you love ranch-style dressings, this recipe is definitely for you! All you will need is half-cup of plain Greek yogurt mixed with two tablespoons of honey, two more of lemon juice, and two more of olive oil. With spices such as paprika or curry, you can also add an oriental touch to this recipe. As this vinaigrette is very creamy, put a little on your salad to try out the taste.
Photo: Flickr
Pepper and Parmesan Vinaigrette
Combine two or three tablespoons of mayonnaise with the oil and vinegar base explained as the first recipe of this article. If you want a low-fat option, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt. Add a tablespoon of grated parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.
Photo: Flickr
Enjoy your meal!!
