Vinaigrette a taste creation

Creation and Innovation in Vinaigrette

Salads have always been an integral part of a meal but strangely enough, this often receives the least amount of attention. More often even, it is the salad dressing that is hardly given enough though. Most people would settle for mediocre, commercially made dressings in order to “simplify” things, or are only familiar with bland, flat tasting blends that carry too much or too little of something. The reality of it all is that it is possible to create great tasting dressings packed with flavor right inside your home. You can achieve this gourmet delight in less than five minutes with ingredients that you most probably already have stored in your cupboard.

One of the most famous salad dressings is the classic, ever famous French vinaigrette. This dressing plays around acidic, sweet, and hot flavors, so the trick is to find the balance in these three elements. In making your vinaigrette, remember that the fresher, higher quality ingredients always produce better results.

Putting together a great salad isn’t an impossibility – in fact, it is one of the most simple things to put together. When creating the dressing for a basic green salad for four, you will need the following ingredients: about one and a half teaspoons mustard, two to three tablespoons oil, about 1 tablespoon vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend the ingredients except the oil with a small whisk until smooth and the ingredients are fully mixed together. Slowly drizzle in the oil while continuously whisking, and adjust the taste to your preference as you go along. Enjoy your salad dressed in vinaigrette and even share it with your family and friends.

The possibilities are endless when making vinaigrette and you can come up with many variations. Fresh herbs in season make for more flavorful dressings, although dried herbs great as well. A blend of imported herbs called Herbes de Provence is a lovely harmony of flavor. Herbs that are readily available on the market such as tarragon, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, mint, dill, and parsley make for great additions to your vinaigrette. Almost anything can be added to your vinaigrette recipe to make it more exciting. Even grated ginger, or crushed garlic are welcome additions to your mixture.

Go even bolder with your flavors and bring your vinaigrette up a notch. Take your dressing a step further by using herbed olive oil, or use balsamic vinegar instead of regular vinegar for a sweeter touch. Balsamic vinegar that can be found in the supermarket carries a good flavor but nothing compares to authentic balsamic vinegar 0 which can cost you over a hundred dollars for just a small bottle. If you are in the mood for a softer tasting, less acidic vinaigrette, you can try substituting rice vinegar or cider vinegar. Remember, just don’t be afraid to experiment and explore and turn your dressing into something more than the usual. The treat in enjoying vinaigrette is that it can bring you a whole new world of flavor in every blend, so go ahead and explore!
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