3 Salad Dressings That’ll Change How You Feel About Salad

Ain’t no thing but a well dressed salad, honey. 

Sometimes, your cooking can feeling a little staid and same same. But, in good news, a little flourish is all you need to bring a boring salad or a snooze-fest steak out of the doldrums and into Flavortown™. These three salad dressing recipes are guaranteed to surprise your tastebuds and transform your lunch, side or dinner into a feast for the senses. Now it’s just a matter of which to make first!

Basil & Chilli dressing

makes about 1 cup

• 1 chopped green chilli (with or without seeds depending on how spicy you want it)
•  ½ cup rocket leaves
• ½ cup (packed) fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup olive oil
• ½ teaspoon f‏inely grated lemon zest
• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
•  ½ teaspoon sugar
• salt and black pepper

Purée chilli, rocket, mint, vegetable oil, olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, and sugar in a blender until smooth; season to taste with salt and pepper. Great with chicken and steak or a big slice of haloumi.

Pawpaw & Tarragon dressing

• ¹⁄₂ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup finely chopped tarragon
• ¹⁄₃ cup honey
• 1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. dry English mustard
• ³⁄₄ tsp. salt
• ³⁄₄ cup olive oil
• 1 ¹⁄₂ tbsp. pawpaw seeds (from about ¹⁄₂ papaya)
• ¹⁄₂ large shallot, minced
• 1 clove garlic

Instructions

In a blender, combine the apple cider vinegar, tarragon, honey, English mustard and salt. Add the olive oil in and keep pulsing until to have a fine paste.

Now things get interesting! Add in the pawpaw seeds, shallot and garlic, and pulse until the seeds are coarsely chopped. Perfect for freshening up a green garden salad.

Soy & Peanut dressing

makes about 1 cup

• ½ cup smooth peanut butter
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
• water, as needed
• salt and black pepper

Whisk peanut butter, rice vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, and soy sauce in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk in water until dressing has the consistency of heavy cream (around ¼–½ cup); season with salt and pepper. Perfect for dressing noodles or marinating tofu.

Let us know your favourite salad dressing in the comments! Got a ripper of a recipe? Share it with us! xo