Balsamic Vinegar Salad Dressing Recipe

This Balsamic Vinegar Salad Dressing Recipe is very quick to make. It uses just a few ingredients to make a delicious dressing that turns a green salad into a taste sensation!



What is balsamic vinegar anyway, you ask? You'll find it in the supermarket with all of the other plain and flavoured vinegars, but it has a very different taste. It is made from unfermented grape pressings that have been boiled down to a syrup and then aged.

I first heard of balsamic vinegar not many years ago, but it has been around (in Italy, at least) for hundreds of years.

The price of balsamic vinegar can vary widely. In general, the longer it is aged, the more expensive it will be. Some pricey varieties have been aged for up to 100 years!

I use just an inexpensive generic brand in this balsamic vinegar salad dressing recipe, and it tastes great.

Check that you have these staples at home

• in the cupboard
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar
  • garlic
  • salt pepper

Get out your equipment

• Essential
  • a jar with a tight-fitting lid
  • measuring cups and spoons

• Nice to have but not necessary
  • a garlic press (if not, mince the garlic with a sharp knife)
  • a salad dressing bottle

The recipe

3/4 cup/175 mL olive oil

1/4 cup/60 mL balsamic vinegar

1 clove garlic, pressed

1/2 tsp/2 mL salt

1/4 tsp/1 mL pepper

Put all of the ingredients in a jar.

Screw the lid on tightly.

Shake the jar vigorously.

Pour the dressing into a salad dressing bottle for serving - or just leave it in the jar and pour or spoon it onto your salad.

Ideas for making this recipe your own

• Experiment with adding spices to the dressing. How about some dry mustard, or a bit of tarragon?

Tips

• The first time you make this recipe, measure the ingredients. You won't need to measure next time. Just use your good judgment.

• Store the dressing in the fridge, but take it out a few minutes before you want to use it. The cold will cause the dressing to solidify, but it will liquify quickly in a warm room. Give it a good shake before using it.

• You can buy a salad dressing bottle, or reuse a bottle from purchased salad dressing. A bottle with a nice pouring spout works best. Just wash the bottle out thoroughly, soak it in hot water to loosen the label, and give it a good scrub. If you want to get really fancy, make your own label for your homemade salad dressing!

What else can I do with balsamic vinegar besides using it in this balsamic vinegar salad dressing recipe?