# I need a healthier salad dressing, both store-bought and homemade **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2020, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985 "2020-05-17T16:38:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/21 "2020-05-18T10:50:29Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > I also have a bottle of EVOO to finish and then I’ll consider what oil to buy. avacado sounds like a good option. > > … You’re allowed to own more than one type of oil at a time. At least you are in Texas, but we’re pretty wild here. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/22 "2020-05-18T11:09:14Z")
Now that I joined a CSA I am obliged to eat salad almost daily in order to not be swamped by greenery in my fridge (the obligatory salad is part of the reason I signed up). My normal dressing is simply drizzle with olive oil, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sprinkle some salt and pepper. Done. I rely on the salad ingredients for interest, not the dressing. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/23 "2020-05-18T11:39:38Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > I rely on the salad ingredients for interest, not the dressing. I rely on lettuce as a carrier for the dressing. Maybe I don’t even need the lettuce. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2020, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/24 "2020-05-18T11:56:05Z")
Lemon juice + olive oil + herbs + salt is a pretty tasty dressing. Cider vinegar can get expensive, but it’s so strong that a little bit goes a long way. We buy schmancy hippie cider vinegar and go through a bottle every year or two. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/25 "2020-05-19T02:32:51Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Along the lines of **silenus** ’ suggestion of a basic recipe, here’s a [chart](https://www.katheats.com/diy-salad-dressing) with a basic recipe with a lot of variations for each category with the proportions. > > It’s basically > > Oil 1 TBSP (EVOO, hazelnut, avocado, etc) > Vinegar 1 tsp (balsamic, sherry, rice wine, red wine, etc.) > Sweetness 1/2 tsp (honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, jam, etc.) > Mustard 1/2 tsp (dijon, honey mustard, grainy, spicy, etc.) > Herbs 2 pinches (rosemary, basil, thyme, dill, etc.) > Seasoning 1 pinch (salt, pepper, garlic, smoked paprika, pepper flakes, etc.) > > It’s a small enough portion that you can try it once and toss it if you don’t like it. It’s also vegan. > > You can decrease the sugar, leave it out or use a fruit juice concentrate. > > I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks good to me. looks very good, exactly what I needed to know. thank you, Roo! I also like the link. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > You’re allowed to own more than one type of oil at a time. At least you are in Texas, but we’re pretty wild here. 😃 more than one? :eek: let me think about that - I guess I worry since it’s just me eating it it might go rancid before I can consume it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/26 "2020-05-19T03:04:10Z")
Buy the smallest bottle they have, keep it away from light and heat and it will last a very long time. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/27 "2020-05-19T03:16:33Z")
You can also refrigerate olive oil (take it out of the fridge a half-hour or more before you want to use it because it will congeal), but the best way is to buy small amounts fresh and use it before it gets too aged. Seconding lemon juice as an alternative acid in dressings if you really don’t like the taste of vinegar. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2020, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985/28 "2020-05-19T16:37:10Z")
My family has salad almost every night with dinner and almost all are dressed simply with balsamic, olive oil, a shake of granulated garlic, some freshly ground pepper, and a dash of salt. Nothing is pre-mixed. Just drizzle/shake on the bowl of greens/veggies and tossed together. Sometimes we mix it up with different flavored vinegar or oil. Vom Fass is a good source for those, if you happen to have one nearby. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-healthier-salad-dressing-both-store-bought-and-homemade/853985.md?page=1)