Dress Up Your Salad

I began making my own dressings when I realized how easy they are to whip up and how much better they taste! Sometimes I enjoy a simple balsamic vinaigrette, and other times a creamy dressing is best. Use these simple rules to help you dress-up your next salad.

Simple rule of thumb when making a dressing:

2 parts oil (or some type of fat … i.e., mayonnaise)

1 part vinegar (white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, etc.)

1 clove of garlic, smashed but not minced, so that it can flavor the dressing but not be overwhelming

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional sweetener to taste (i.e., honey or agave)

Basic Balsamic Salad Dressing

2 parts olive oil

1 part balsamic vinegar

1 garlic clove, smashed, not minced

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Put all ingredients together in a jar.
2. Cover and shake until combined.

Artichoke Cilantro Salad Dressing

1 12-ounce jar of Trader Joe’s Marinated Artichokes + oil

1 garlic clove, smashed

1 cup cilantro

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Place all contents of marinated artichokes and other ingredients into a food processor.
2. Blend until fully combined and artichokes are blended.