How to Make Delicious and Easy Homemade Salad Dressings
Nanette HumerTime to empty out your refrigerator door of partially used salad dressing bottles. They're probably expired anyway. You'll never reach for those premade bottles again once you learn how easy it is to make your own salad dressings with a few pantry ingredients.
The short answer: a homemade dressing is just oil, an acid like vinegar or lemon juice, salt and pepper. Most cooks start with about 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. Our house Simple Vinaigrette is tangier, closer to equal parts. Add a spoonful of mustard or honey to hold it together, shake it in a jar, and taste it on a lettuce leaf. That's it.
The building blocks of a great salad dressing
As you begin experimenting, keep these essential ingredients in mind. Once you know the roles, you can make almost any dressing with what's already in your kitchen.
Oil
Oil is the key ingredient and the base of any dressing. Never skimp on it: it's what gives a dressing its smooth, creamy texture. Make sure the oil you use tastes great and doesn't overpower your other ingredients. We recommend our Original Grapeseed Oil for most dressings. Its light, clean flavor lets the vinegar and herbs shine, and it blends into a creamy dressing that won't separate or cloud when chilled. Once you're comfortable, experiment with our infused oils like basil or lemon.
Acid
Most dressings have a vinegar component. Keep a few kinds on hand, like apple cider, red wine, and our Salute Santé! Balsamic and Champagne vinegars. Lemon and lime juice work too. We like to use citrus in addition to vinegar, because nothing beats that tangy vinegar flavor.
The Chef's Choice Since 1994 - 2023 SOFI Gold Award WinnerWe are working with local Napa wineries using their unfilled 750ml glass bottles...
The perfect companion to our grapeseed oil for rich, full flavored salad dressings. Or, simmer slowly to reduce as a wonderful finishing...
With the abundance of delicious grapes in Napa Valley, Salute Santé! is pleased to offer a delicious California champagne vinegar. Made from...
Seasonings
Salt and pepper are almost always necessary. Adding other seasonings is where the fun begins, and it's the easiest way to turn a basic vinaigrette into a dressing made for the salad you're serving. For the best spices, we love Whole Spice, our neighbor at Napa's Oxbow Public Market. Their blends are packed with flavor, so a little goes a long way.
Herbs
Herbs are great in dressings, and you can usually use whatever you have on hand: cilantro, parsley, tarragon, mint, chives, you name it. Chop them finely and add them last.
Sweetness
A touch of sweetness balances the acid. Honey is our favorite, especially our raw Napa Wildflower Honey, but raw sugar or agave work too.
Creaminess
For an even creamier dressing, add a spoonful of mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, an egg yolk or Dijon mustard. Mustard also helps the oil and vinegar stay blended, and adds a nice dash of flavor.
5 of our favorite dressings you can make at home
1. Simple Vinaigrette
A basic vinaigrette anyone can make. Toss a few ingredients in a mason jar and shake away. You can put it together in less than 5 minutes, and it's delicious on mixed greens, grain bowls and seafood salads.
You'll need: Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil, Champagne vinegar (or apple cider vinegar), a splash of water, Dijon mustard, a little sugar, salt and pepper.
Get the Simple Vinaigrette recipe →
2. Balsamic Vinaigrette
This balsamic vinaigrette is a house staple of ours and a favorite of everyone who tastes it. It's simple, takes only a few ingredients, and keeps in the fridge for up to a week. Try it over sliced avocado, fresh greens or grains, or on a winter salad with beets, persimmon, walnuts and chèvre.
You'll need: Salute Santé! Original Grapeseed Oil, Salute Santé! Balsamic Vinegar, honey, a clove of garlic (or a tablespoon of our Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil), sea salt and pepper. For a fuller flavor, swap in our Extra Virgin Merlot Grapeseed Oil.
Get the Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe →
This Salad Dressing Set is sure to please! Our Balsamic Vinaigrette has won rave reviews for years and now it can be...
3. Banyuls Vinaigrette
A simple vinaigrette that elevates any salad, from fresh garden greens to an elegant seafood starter. The recipe comes courtesy of the late, great chef Jean-Louis Palladin. Banyuls is a sweet-tart French wine vinegar, and once you try it you'll keep a bottle in your pantry.
You'll need: Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil, Salute Santé! Napa Olive Oil, Banyuls vinegar, salt and pepper.
Get the Banyuls Vinaigrette recipe →
4. Tarragon Vinaigrette
A family favorite! We love it on steamed green beans, potatoes and especially a leafy green salad when tarragon is in season. It's the dressing in the video above, and it's the star of our beautiful Edible Flower Salad.
You'll need: fresh tarragon, Salute Santé! Original Grapeseed Oil, Dijon mustard, Salute Santé! Champagne Vinegar, raw sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk the oil in slowly for a thick, creamy dressing.
Get the Tarragon Vinaigrette recipe →
5. Lemon Vinaigrette
Sweet, savory and bright, this vinaigrette is sure to perk up any salad. It's especially good with our Shredded Carrot, Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
You'll need: fresh lemon juice, Salute Santé! Champagne Vinegar, Salute Santé! Lemon Grapeseed Oil, a pinch of sugar, salt and fresh ground pepper.
Get the Lemon Vinaigrette recipe →
The flavor and scent of our Salute Santé! Lemon Grapeseed Oil is reminiscent of freshly squeezed lemonade! It’s high smoke point makes it perfect...
Roasted Garlic Grapeseed Oil is our best seller and is known as the “best garlic oil on the market.” Infused with all-natural...
Tips for perfect homemade dressing
- Use a jar. A mason jar with a tight lid is the easiest way to mix, serve and store dressing.
- Add the oil slowly for creamy dressings. When you whisk, drizzle the oil in a little at a time. It blends into a thicker, creamier dressing.
- Taste on a leaf. Dip a piece of lettuce instead of tasting from a spoon. A dressing that tastes sharp on its own is often perfect on greens.
- Dress just before serving. Toss greens at the last minute so they stay crisp.
- Make extra. Most vinaigrettes keep in the fridge for up to a week. Because grapeseed oil stays liquid when chilled, your dressing is ready to pour straight from the fridge after a quick shake.
More dressings to try
Ready for more? Try our Sweet Ginger Vinaigrette on an Asian-style slaw, our Mandarin Tangerine Vinaigrette on winter greens, or browse all of our salad and dressing recipes.
Salad dressing FAQ
How long does homemade salad dressing last?
Most oil-and-vinegar dressings keep for up to a week in the refrigerator. Dressings made with fresh garlic, herbs, yogurt or egg are best used within a few days.
Why does my dressing separate?
Oil and vinegar naturally separate over time. A little Dijon mustard or honey helps hold them together. If yours separates, just shake the jar again before serving.
What is the best oil for salad dressing?
A light, neutral oil lets the flavors of the vinegar, herbs and seasonings shine. That's why chefs reach for grapeseed oil. It also stays liquid in the refrigerator, unlike many olive oils, which can turn cloudy and thick when chilled.
Can I use infused oils in dressings?
Absolutely. Swap some or all of the plain oil for one of our infused oils. Lemon, basil and roasted garlic grapeseed oils make instant, flavorful vinaigrettes with no chopping.
Love making dressings? Our Salad Dressing Gift Set has everything you need: our Balsamic and Champagne vinegars, roasted garlic, lemon and basil grapeseed oils, and The Original Grapeseed Oil. It makes a great gift, too.
