10 Salad Dressings to Know by Heart

Faith Durand

Nov 16, 2017

• 
  

(Image credit: Kimberley Hasselbrink)

Making salad dressing from scratch is nearly as fast and easy as shaking up a store-bought bottle, and the taste is exponentially better than even the most "gourmet" jar of blue cheese dressing. (And can I just say that homemade ranch is reason alone to eat a salad tonight?)

How To Make a Basic Vinaigrette

(Image credit: Christine Han)

It's easier, though, to quit buying bottled dressings when you don't even need to consult a recipe before shaking up tonight's salad.

Do you have a salad dressing (or two) memorized? Not just the super-basic,super-essential vinaigrette, but something that really delights you on a weeknight?

We have a few dressing recipes that, for reasons of their utterly classic nature (Caesar, Italian) or their simplicity (tahini miso), deserve to be known by heart. This list started with just five, but has grown as we fall in love with others.

But First, How to Make a Great Salad with No Recipe at All

But before we dive into our favorites, let's return to that vinaigrette and talk about dressing a salad with no recipe whatsoever. The most basic way to make a salad taste really, really good is to toss it lightly with good olive oil, then squeeze a little lemon or drizzle some balsamic vinegar over it. Toss with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper, which are often all too neglected in salads, and you have yourself a delicious side salad. Herbs will just make it that much better.

More salad philosophy: How To Make a Better Side Salad 

So, having mastered the ultra-simple and classic method of dressing a salad, here are 10 dressings we think deserve to be known by heart.

1/10

The Perfect Caesar Salad Dressing

Image credit: Jeff Roffman

10 Salad Dressings to Know by Heart

1. The Perfect Caesar Salad Dressing: A Caesar salad is a treat — especially with romaine (fresh or grilled) and the perfect Caesar dressing. (Avoiding eggs? Try this easy eggless version.)
2. Balsamic Vinaigrette: The classic balsamic vinaigrette — the one we like to shake up in a jar and leave in our refrigerators for fast and easy salads.
3. Quick Ranch Dressing: A classic dressing, so much better when homemade. Mayonnaise and buttermilk, chives and mint, if you're inclined.
4. Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing: That luscious blue cheese taste, all homemade, but just as good for dipping celery and wings as dressing salad.
5. Italian Salad Dressing: More Italian-American than Old World, this dressing replaces that bottle of Kraft we grew up with.
6. Poppy Seed Salad Dressing: Craving that delicious springtime strawberry spinach salad? This is the dressing you want.
7. Green Goddess Dressing: That creamy, dreamy, oh-so-green dressing that is just as good as a dip as on salad.
8. Two-Minute Creamy Salad Dressing: Even easier than ranch dressing, this incredibly simple dressing has mayonnaise and grainy mustard.
9. Two-Ingredient Miso & Citrus Salad Dressing: Just two ingredients somehow become savory, salty, and tangy. It doesn't get any easier!
10. Four-Ingredient Brown Butter Dressing: This last dressing breaks from olive oil to substitute butter. And holy arugula, is it good!

Are these the dressings you gravitate towards most? Or are there others you like to use on your salads? What can you whip up without even thinking about it?