Light, crisp olive oil, fresh herbs, and some wild, flavored vinegar will change the way you look at salad dressing forever. From mesclun and romaine to baby kale and bibb, jazz up the greens with these fresh, bold, DIY dressings and make your veggies sing for spring!
With temperatures warming, meals are getting lighter, brighter and including a lot more greens. And with all the care you spend picking out the perfect, fresh ingredients for those leafy salads, why not give your dressing a little make over, too?
Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette
What You'll Need!
- 3/4 cup Di Bruno Bros. Sicilian Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1 teaspoon dry oregano, crushed between palms before adding – try the Stories of Greek Origins Organic Oregano!
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Whisk vinegar in a bowl with garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper until the salt dissolves. Add olive oil slowly, whisking constantly. Alternatively, place all of the ingredients in a screw-top jar and shake to combine. Toss a few tablespoons of the dressing over mixed greens, use to replace the mayo in your tuna salad or as a marinade for grill-ready meats.
Figgy Fennel, Orange and Walnuts
What You'll Need!
- 1/4 cup L’Olivier Fig Vinegar
- 1 medium-sized fennel bulb, sliced paper thin (a mandolin works best!)
- 2 navel oranges, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
- 1/2 cup walnuts
Toss sliced fennel, oranges and walnuts in fig vinegar. Serve over arugula with your favorite blue cheese crumbles (we like
Point Reyes Blue Cheese).
Passion Fruit, Cilantro and Lime Vinaigrette
What You'll Need!
- 1/4 cup L’Olivier Passion Fruit Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon ginger root, freshly grated
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup Di Bruno Bros. Sicilian Olive Oil
Combine vinegar, lime juice, zest, honey, ginger and salt in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the oil, pulsing to incorporate. Toss with a mixed green salad, use to marinate chicken or fish, or try drizzled over fresh berries.
Thyme, Bacon, Chili Pepper Vinaigrette
What You'll Need!
- 1/4 cup L’Olivier Espelette Pepper Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme -- Stories of Greek Origins Organic Thyme (an especially aromatic option)
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoon bacon grease, strained
- 1/2 cup Di Bruno Bros. Sicilian Olive Oil
Whisk together vinegar, thyme, sugar, and salt until sugar and salt dissolve. Slowly add in olive oil and bacon grease in slowly, whisking constantly until all items are combined. Serve over salad with crispy bacon bits, drizzle over roasted fish or use as a marinade for chicken.
Home Made Buttermilk Ranch
What You'll Need!
- 1 cup buttermilk, well-shaken
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise -- or try Just Mayo
- 3 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
- 4 teaspoons L’Olivier Espelette Pepper Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 medium clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Place all ingredients in a 2 cup container with a tight fitting lid (or Mason Jar), seal tightly and shake to evenly distribute all ingredients. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired. Refrigerate about 1 hour before serving. You can dress your salad with creamy Ranch, but you can also use as a dip for fresh veggies, to replace the red sauce on your next gourmet pizza, or to add zip to mashed potatoes.
Easy Blue Cheese Dressing
What You'll Need!
- 1/4 pound blue cheese, crumbled – (we recommend Point Reyes Blue Cheese)
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 mayonnaise – or try Just Mayo!
- 1 tablespoon L’Olivier Espelette Pepper Vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
Crumble blue cheese into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add sour cream, buttermilk, mayonnaise, Espelette vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Serve with wings, on top of salad or incorporate into your mac and cheese!
So make your list, check it twice and stop by Di Bruno Bros for all you need to get a little taste of spring! Add an herb? Swap vinegars? We’d love to hear what variations you’re trying, too!
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