Introduction

Salad dressings can transform any simple salad into a flavorful masterpiece. Here, you’ll find nine easy and delicious dressing recipes, from classic ranch to tangy honey poppy seed, that suit a variety of tastes and salads. Each is simple to make with common ingredients.

The image shows nine small white bowls arranged in a 3x3 grid on a white marbled surface. Each bowl contains a different sauce or dressing with smooth textures and varying colors. The top row has a light orange sauce, a pale orange sauce, and a white sauce with black specks. The middle row contains a thick white sauce, a yellow sauce, and a light brown sauce. The bottom row has a dark speckled sauce, a white sauce with green herbs, and a beige sauce. Each bowl is filled evenly, showing a variety of creamy and smooth sauces. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

For Classic Ranch: 1/3 cup buttermilk, 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, 2 tablespoons chopped chives, 1 teaspoon dried dill weed, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For Homemade Creamy Italian: 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
For Classic Vinaigrette: 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste, 1/3 cup olive oil
For Roasted Garlic Dressing: 1 head garlic, olive oil for roasting, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan, 1/3 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste
For Honey Mustard: 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste, 1/4 cup olive oil
For Honey Poppy Seed: 2 teaspoons black poppy seeds, 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/3 cup olive oil
For Asian Sesame: 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 1/2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger, 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For Peanut-Lime: 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter, 2 tablespoons water, juice of one lime, 1 tablespoon rice or white vinegar, 1 tablespoon chopped peeled ginger, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey
For Creamy Blue Cheese: 1/4 cup buttermilk, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, juice of 1/2 a lemon, salt and hot sauce to taste

Instructions

Classic Ranch Salad Dressing: Whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, parsley, chives, dried dill, kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Use fresh herbs if available or substitute with 1 tablespoon each dried parsley and chives.
Homemade Creamy Italian Salad Dressing: Blend mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, sour cream, olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic, and kosher salt until smooth. Stir in chopped parsley by hand.
Classic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing: Whisk red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil until well combined.
Roasted Garlic Dressing: Slice the top off garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil, and roast at 400°F (200°C) for about 35 minutes until tender. Cool, squeeze cloves out, then blend with red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Parmesan, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper until smooth.
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing: Whisk honey, Dijon mustard, white vinegar, kosher salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in olive oil to emulsify.
Honey Poppy Seed Dressing: Whisk poppy seeds, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and kosher salt. Slowly whisk in olive oil to combine.
Asian Sesame Dressing: Whisk cider vinegar, honey, grated ginger, sesame oil, vegetable oil, kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder until well blended.
Peanut-Lime Dressing: Blend peanut butter, water, lime juice, rice or white vinegar, chopped ginger, soy sauce, and honey until smooth and creamy.
Creamy Blue Cheese Salad Dressing: Whisk buttermilk, sour cream, blue cheese, lemon juice, salt, and hot sauce to taste until creamy and combined.

Tips & Variations

Fresh herbs elevate flavors but dried herbs work well if fresh are unavailable; adjust quantities accordingly.
For a milder blue cheese dressing, substitute blue cheese with crumbled feta.
Make a double batch of roasted garlic dressing and use extra as a marinade for chicken or roasted vegetables.
Adjust honey and vinegar proportions in honey-based dressings to balance sweetness and tang to your preference.
Use neutral oils like vegetable or canola in Asian sesame dressing for a lighter taste, or substitute sesame oil for nuttier flavor.

Storage

Store dressings in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to one week. Shake or stir well before using as ingredients may separate. Roasted garlic and creamy dressings generally keep well but avoid storing for more than a week for optimum freshness and safety.

How to Serve

Nine small glass jars are arranged in a neat 3x3 grid on a white marbled texture. Each jar is filled to the top with a different creamy sauce or dressing. The top row shows a speckled black and white sauce, a smooth light beige sauce, and a golden-brown sauce with a slightly grainy texture. The middle row has a white sauce with green herb specks in the left jar, a bright yellow smooth sauce in the center jar, and a light brown creamy sauce with tiny black dots in the right jar. The bottom row features a beige thick sauce on the left, an orange-tan creamy sauce in the middle, and a white sauce with black specks on the right. All jars are open, showing the textures clearly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh for the dressings?

Yes, dried herbs can be used as a substitute. Use about one-third the amount of fresh herbs called for, or adjust to taste since dried herbs are more concentrated.

How do I prevent vinaigrette from separating?

Whisking vinaigrettes while slowly adding oil helps emulsify the dressing. You can also shake the dressing well before each use to recombine separated ingredients.