• Here area few very simple ideas on how to level up your salad dressings!

    A little sweetness:

    Olive oil, raspberry vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, dry mustard, garlic, salt and pepper

    The herb dressing:

    Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, fresh origanum, fresh rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper

    The French

    dressing: Mustard powder, castor sugar, white wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper

    The Asian mixture:

    Sunflower oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger and lemongrass

    Tips

    • For the best results, use good quality ingredients.
    • If you do find the raw garlic very strong in your dressings, rub a garlic clove in the inside of your salad bowl to get just the hint of the garlic flavour.
    • To clean salad dressing bottles with narrow necks use a baby bottle brush.

    Fun Salad Dressing Ideas

    Spicy pomegranate and mint dressing
    Combine 125ml (½ cup) pomegranate juice with 30ml (2 tbsp) olive/avocado oil together with 30ml (2 tbsp) fresh mint, 1 roughly chopped garlic clove and season. Great for salad dressing or roast lamb. Makes about 130ml.

    Black olive tapenade, sesame seed and lime zest dressing
    Mix 60ml (¼ cup) black olive tapenade with 30ml (2 tbsp) Egyptian dukkah, 5ml (1 tsp) za’atar spice together with zest and juice of 1 lime and 45ml (3 tbsp) olive/avocado oil. Serve with braai meat, fish or chicken. Makes about 125ml.

    Horseradish and yoghurt dressing
    Mix 250ml (1 cup) Greek-style plain yoghurt with 15ml (1 tbsp) creamed horseradish together with 10ml (2 tsp) freshly squeezed lemon juice, 45ml (3 tbsp) olive/avocado oil, 5ml (1 tsp) ground cumin and season to taste. Serve with pan-fried steak, cooked ham, roast potatoes and roast chicken. Makes about 250ml.

    Light mayonnaise, creamed balsamic vinegar and fresh chives
    Place 250ml (1 cup) light good-quality mayonnaise in a mixing bowl and mix in 20ml (4 tsp) creamed balsamic vinegar, 45ml (3 tbsp) olive/avocado oil, 2 crushed garlic cloves, salt to taste, and 20ml (4 tsp) snipped fresh chives. Mix well to combine. Use as a salad dressing. Makes about 280ml.

    ALSO SEE: Cherry Caprese Salad with Wild Garlic Dressing

    Cherry Caprese salad with wild garlic dressing

    ALSO SEE: Caesar Salad Grazing Board

    Caesar Salad Grazing Board

    ALSO SEE: Spiced Okra Millet Salad with Tahini Dressing

    Spiced okra millet salad with tahini dressing

    Made any of these recipes? Tag us @foodandhomesa #cookingwithFH on Instagram!