Oil and Vinegar dressing

Salad Dressing

A salad can be a tasty inclusion to your mean. However, this part of the meal is oftentimes neglected or hardly no effort is made to prepare it. Some use sugared-up commercial dressing, while others use dressings that are too acidic and throat-scorching. Sometimes, the dressing can also turn up to bland tasting.

Here are some fabulous dressings you can take and try preparing for your personal consumption. It is so easy to prepare that you will be surprised about how much you have been missing when it fact it does not take much to prepare it. Yes, you can do it in minutes.

Let us start with the classic French vinaigrette. After all, this is the original from where all the other dressings originate. Although it is easy to prepare, you also have to be able to balance the acid taste (of the lemon juice or vinegar) with sweetness (from olive oil and other additions) and spice (from pepper, mustard, etc.). Be mindful that excellent ingredients are the key. The quality of your vinaigrette will depend on the quality of your ingredients.

For a salad good for four servings, use 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil (usually olive oil), 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 ½ teaspoons mustard, a dash of salt and pepper. Using a small whisk, blend all the ingredients save for the oil. Make sure that these are well blended. Then slowly pour the oil into the mixture even as you continue whisking briskly. Taste the salad as you work, since no two salads are exactly alike.

Once you aster the art of making the basic vinaigrette, you can now start making a cornucopia of variations. It is particularly exciting in the summer, when you can make use of fresh herbs. Do experiment with different ingredients. You can also alter the taste of your vinaigrette as you go along by adding more vinegar or oil. When fresh herbs are not available, you still have the option of using dried herbs but you have to remember that dried herbs are more concentrated. The evaporation of water has made it two times more flavorful than fresh herbs. You can try looking for Herbes de Provence which is a lovely combination of dried herbs. This can be found in gourmet markets.

You can also add flavor to the dressing by using fresh thyme, mint, tarragon, rosemary, parsley, cilantro, dill and chervil. You can play with the different flavors by combining them. There are also herbed olive oils you can try. Most of these are from Italy, France and California. But mind you, these can be expensive, but with the quality, it is well worth the price.

If you want your vinaigrette to be milder and less acidic tasting, use cider vinegar or rice vinegar. There are also sweet-flavored balsamic vinegars. The ones you find in the supermarket may not be authentic but can add sweetness to your vinaigrette. The real thing can cost upwards of $160 for a small bottle and is from Modena, Italy.

[tag[ oil and vinegar dressing, vinaigrette salad dressing[/tag]