Basic Salad Dressing

whisking salad dressing. photo cred: Monica Farber

Some say food is the way to a loved one’s heart. After 50+ years of marriage, my mom would say that laughter is the key to a successful marriage, but a close second might be the nightly salads she makes for my dad, topped with her homemade salad dressing. She doesn’t cut any corners in preparing the dressing, and she must be insane because she doesn’t make it in large batches either. I’m not lying when I say she makes it nightly. My mom also loves to complain about “having” to make the dressing and salad every night, but we all know that she secretly loves it because of how much my dad loves it.

The actual salad is pretty simple, and is dependent on what’s growing in the garden, or what’s fresh at the market. The general make up is green or red leaf lettuces or arugula, sliced tomatoes, avocado, fresh herbs, and depending on what’s on hand either artichoke hearts or hearts of palm, and mozzarella pearls. Then she tosses it up with the dressing.

Her basic formula for the dressing is one that can be customized to suit your taste, or to accommodate other flavors in the salad. For example, use whichever vinegar you prefer, whatever fresh herbs you have on hand, or adjust the fresh garlic according to your preference. Add Worcestershire sauce and parmesan for a caesar! Or keep it as simple as you like. Whatever you do, don’t be a martyr, and make a batch to keep in the fridge!

Basic Salad Dressing:

• 1/3 cup oil (e.v.o.o. preferred)

• 1/2 lemon, juiced

• 3 Tablespoons vinegar (chef’s choice, white balsamic preferred)

• freshly minced garlic (as much as you can stand)

• fresh herbs, chopped (or any herb or combination or herbs, thyme preferred)

• salt & pepper

Directions:

Combine olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar and garlic in your measuring cup, then pour into your salad bowl - whisk, whisk, whisk. Next add your chopped herbs, salt & pepper, and whisk some more. If whisking is too taxing, then you can use a hand emulsifier (immersion blender).

photo crew: Monica Farber