How to Make Salad Dressing

Learning how to make salad dressing is a crucial part of salad making. A good dressing should unite all the ingredients of a salad and add the extra flavor to make a delicious salad. You want good flavor in the dressing because most of the salad’s flavor does come from the dressing. On the other hand too much flavor (or too strong flavor) will drown out the flavor of the ingredients like lettuce and other vegetables. A good balance is necessary for a good salad!


Besides learning how to make salad dressing there are other important decisions which must be made when serving salad. Do you serve your salad with the dressing already on it or not? If you choose to add the dressing, many salads will wilt and become soggy if it is added too much in advance of serving. For these recipes toss the ingredients with the other ingredients immediately before serving.


There are some recipes which taste better if the dressing is added earlier and then refrigerated maybe an hour before serving. I sometimes do this with salads container coarser ingredients like romaine lettuce. This “marinating” contributes to++ more flavor.


Another problem might arise if too much dressing is added to the salad. You certainly do not want to drown the salad in the dressing. After a dinner, I have seen salad bowls floating with the dressing in the bottom; this is definitely a “no no”. 


Learning how to make salad dressing has been a chore for cooks and homemakers for centuries. The oldest ones were made with vinegar, oil and spices. As a child growing up, we never had much of a choice in the salad dressings; it was always mayonnaise. I do remember when Italian dressing came on the market. This is what my sister bought and I loved her salads.


Commercial dressings quickly replaced cooks learning how to make salad dressing; the space on the shelves with these dressings seemed to expand overnight. Most of these I have never tried and I still prefer to make mine at home. Even the Italian that I use to like does not taste good to me today.

HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE RECIPE

  • 2 Egg yolks
  • 2 Cups vegetable oil
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ Teaspoon dry mustard
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 Teaspoon paprika

Beat egg yolks on high speed of mixer until thick and lemony color.

Add oil and beat until mixture thickens.

Add remaining ingredients and stir well.

Spoon into a glass container; cover and chill.

HOW TO MAKE SALAD DRESSING FOR FRUIT

How to Make Salad DressingHow to Make Salad Dressing for Fruit

This salad dressing recipe adds a special taste to a bowl of fresh fruit.  I love to add a little poppy seeds (about 1 tablespoon) but the coconut is also good.

  • 1 Cup sour cream
  • ¼ Cup sugar
  • 3 Tablespoon orange juice
  • Coconut or poppy seeds

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND BLEND; SERVE WITH FRESH FRUIT.

SWEET MINT DRESSING

  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1/3 Cup water
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ Cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

Combine sugar, water and lemon juice in a small saucepan; bring to a boil stirring occasionally.

Remove pan from heat.

Combine sugar mixture with mint leaves in a food processor; process until leaves are finely chopped.

Cover and chill dressing 2 to 3 hours; serve over fresh fruit.

SWEET PINEAPPLE CREAM DRESSING

  • 1 Cup pineapple juice
  • 2 Beaten egg yolks
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon prepared mustard
  • Dash of salt
  • 1 Cup heavy cream, whipped

Combine first 6 ingredients in a small saucepan.

Cook over low heat stirring occasionally until smooth and thickened (about 30 minutes).

Cool mixture and then fold the whipped cream into the mixture; serve over fruit.

RANCH SALAD DRESSING

  • 2 Cloves minced garlic
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • ½ Teaspoon dry mustard
  • Salt/ pepper to taste
  • 4 Tablespoons sour cream
  • 5 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 Cup oil
  • Parsley

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND BLEND WELL.

TANGY TOMATO SALAD DRESSING

Tangy Tomato Salad DressingTangy Tomato Salad Dressing

How to make salad dressings from tomatoes? This is a great tomato dressing with wonderful tangy taste.

  • 2/3 Cup catsup
  • 1/3 Cup water
  • ¼ Cup sugar
  • ¼ Cup white vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/8 Teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ Teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch thyme
  • Pinch salt

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND BLEND WELL.

Tangy Tomato Salad DressingTangy Tomato Salad Dressing

HOT BACON DRESSING RECIPE

Hot Bacon Salad DressingHot Bacon Dressing Recipe

Learn how to make salad dressing with a delicious bacon flavor. This is wonderful over fresh spinach!

  • 8 Ounces crisply fried bacon
  • 1 Large finely diced onion
  • 6 Egg yolks beaten
  • 1/4 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons dry mustard
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • ½ Cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 Cup water

Brown bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels, crumb and set aside.

Remove drippings from skillet; saute onions in pan until tender over medium low heat. 

Beat egg yolks; add pepper, salt, mustard, sugar, vinegar, Worchestershire, dill, water and oil.

Beat mixture until well blended.

Quickly whisk egg mixture in skillet with the onions.

Stir mixture constantly over low heat until thickened.

NOTE: This will be a thick dressing; if desired add a little more water to thin. (I like it thick.)

GREEN GODDESS DRESSING RECIPE

  • 1 Cup mayonnaise
  • ½ Cup sour cream
  • 3 Tablespoons tarragon vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1/3 Cup chopped parsley
  • 3 Tablespoons minced onion
  • 3 Tablespoons mashed anchovies
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped chives
  • 2 Teaspoons chopped capers
  • 1 Clove minced garlic
  • Salt/ pepper to taste

COMBINE AND BLEND WELL.

FRENCH SALAD DRESSING RECIPE

French Salad Dressing RecipeFrench Salad Dressing Recipe
  • ¾ Cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ Cup vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • ¾ Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ Teaspoon dry mustard
  • ¼ Teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ cup sour cream

COMBINE AND BLEND WELL.

THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING

  • 1 Cup mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons chili sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons minced green pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh grated parsley
  • 1 Teaspoon grated onion

COMBINE AND BLEND WELL.

BLUE CHEESE DRESSING

Blue Cheese Salad DressingBlue Cheese Dressing
  • ¾ Cup olive oil
  • ¼ Cup vinegar
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of onion powder
  • ½ Teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 Teaspoon pepper
  • ½ Cup crumbled blue cheese

COMBINE AND BLEND WELL.

POPPY SEED DRESSING

How to make salad dressings with poppy seeds? This is a very good dressing if you are a fan of poppy seeds.

Poppy Seed DressingPoppy Seed Dressing
  • 1 Cup oil
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • 1/3 Cup vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon grated onion
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon dry mustard

COMBINE AND MIX WELL.

SOUR CREAM GARDEN DRESSING

  • 1 Cup sour cream
  • ½ Cup finely chopped cucumber
  • ¼ Cup chopped green onion
  • ¼ Cup chopped radishes
  • 1 Tablespoon salad vinegar
  • 1 ½ Teaspoons horseradish
  • ¾ Teaspoon salt
  • ½ Teaspoon dill seed

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND MIX WELL.

SWEET AND SOUR DRESSING

How to make salad dressings that are sweet and sour? This dressing gives the right combination of sweet to sour.

  • 1 Cup salad oil
  • ½ Cup vinegar
  • ½ Cup sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Teaspoon celery seeds
  • 1 Teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1Teaspoon paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon grated onion

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND MIX WELL.

BUTTERMILK DRESSING RECIPE 

Buttermilk Dressing RecipeButtermilk Dressing Recipe
  • 1 Cup buttermilk
  • 2 Cups mayonnaise
  • 1 Teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ Teaspoon white pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons dried parsley

COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS AND BLEND WELL; REFRIGERATE.

GARLIC PARMESAN DRESSING RECIPE

Garlic Parmesan Dressing RecipeGarlic Parmesan Dressing Recipe
  • 1 Egg beaten
  • 1 Clove crushed garlic
  • ½ Cup salad oil
  • 1/3 Cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ Teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tablespoon vinegar

Beat egg, oil and garlic; add cheese, pepper, salt and beat well.

Beat in vinegar; store in refrigerator.