Salads are tasty yet healthy, creative yet balanced, simple yet fulfilling, and easy to prepare, colourful, fresh, and rich in nutrients. The right salad dressings can elevate your bowl of greens. Afterall, you neither want your greens to get soggy, nor your dressing to be overpowering. With the right ingredients you can add crunch, burst of sweetness and a zing of citrus—the options and combinations are endless.

 

There’s no doubt that homemade dressings are healthier than store-bought bottles which come with added sugar, preservatives and saturated fats. Homemade dressings are easy to make, they usually take 2 to 3 minutes to get ready, and can be stored for days. They are also infinitely better tasting, and you can customise them according to your taste buds.

 

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We have pulled together some key ingredients that can form the base for many delicious salad dressings. Take a look to see how you can make your own salad dressings at home.

 

1. Olive Oil

A 2012 study published by Purdue University reports that olive oil is the best choice of salad dressing if you wish to absorb all the nutrients from those veggies. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which provide the most efficient absorption of carotenoids. These are pigments with antioxidant abilities present in fruits and vegetables.

 

Salad Dressing With Olive Oil: To make the simplistic yet classic olive oil dressing, choose any acid, most commonly vinegar. Add seasonings of your choice to the vinegar, like salt. While constantly whisking it, slowly add olive oil. Shake all ingredients together in a jar with a tight lid.

 

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2. Pomegranate Molasses

When craving for something thick, tangy, syrupy, and sweet, this Mediterranean salad dressing has got you covered. It pairs great with roasted nuts, and can be stored for weeks.

 

Salad Dressing With Pomegranate Molasses: To make this dressing, add some pomegranate molasses with vinegar, mustard, and honey. Season it with some salt and pepper, and it is ready to be stored for days.

 

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3. Garlic Clove

Garlic paired with a touch of lemon brings a lot of zing to simple lettuce salads. Being rich in vitamin C, B6, and manganese, it is super nutritious with very few calories. A 2008 study published in the Journal Of Atherosclerosis And Thrombosis reported that garlic is highly effective in reducing blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.

 

Salad Dressing With Garlic Clove: To prepare the garlic clove salad dressing, take one clove of garlic, one spoon lemon juice, 1/4th teaspoon mustard, salt and pepper to taste, and olive oil. This salad dressing can be stored for four to five days, and should be kept refrigerated.

 

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4. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a great source of Vitamin C, which is essential for health and a deficiency of it can lead to diseases. It comes together in minutes, and stays well in the fridge for days. It is vibrant, bright, and fresh. It peps up green veggies and makes roasted nuts more exciting and tangy.

 

Salad Dressing With Lemon Juice: In order to make a salad dressing using lemon juice, you can use olive oil, garlic, honey, and obviously some salt and pepper to taste. So shake it up, store it in the fridge, and start drizzling it over your salads everyday.

 

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5. White Wine Vinegar

A good salad demands a good dressing. When you want your salad to be tangy, but does not want overpowering flavour, white wine vinaigrette is perfect for any salad.

 

Salad Dressing With White Wine Vinegar: It can be combined with the regular olive oil, honey, or maple syrup. Take the oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, and sugar, and place them all into a jar with a tight lid. Shake all the ingredients together, and your white wine vinaigrette is ready for use. It can be stored in the fridge for upto two weeks.

 

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6. Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

When looking for the perfect balance of sweet and sour in your salad, orange poppy seed dressing comes handy. It is versatile, and delicious. It also makes you skip the bottled salad dressings and cut down on additives and sodium.

 

Salad Dressing With Orange Poppy Seeds: In order to make this dressing, you need some orange juice, poppy seeds, olive oil, sugar, honey, salt and pepper. Combine the oil, orange juice, sugar, and honey into a bowl. Whisk them all with salt and pepper until blended. Then add poppy seeds, and whisk it with the mixture for use.

 

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