Salads (mixed greens or raw vegetables) and salad dressings have been enjoyed since the early days of ancient Rome. From the Latin word sal (salt), salad literally means salted things. Even though recipes for
salads changed and progressed into complicated groupings of greens, herbs, and vegetables, the dressings stayed somewhat the same. Salad dressing recipes that were used earlier in history had a base of vinegar, oil, salt, and herbs. This
type of dressing is called a vinaigrette. However, through the years other varieties of dressings have been created from all sorts of ingredients.
There are three types of salad dressings and they are vinaigrette, creamy, and cooked. As mentioned above a vinaigrette is made up of oil, vinegar, sugar, herbs, and spices. Most commonly a vinaigrette is used as a salad dressing, but it
is also a great marinade. As for creamy dressings, they usually have a mayonnaise or yogurt base. This type of dressing may also have a base of sour cream, milk, or buttermilk. The third kind of dressing, cooked, is similar to a creamy dressing;
however it is thickened with eggs over low heat.
Many do not think to make their own salad dressing, mostly because they think it is time consuming. No one will disagree that grabbing a bottle at the store is much more convenient. Yet, when preparing a salad dressing recipe and eating
it atop a salad, most find that it tastes much better than a bottled dressing from the store. Not only does a homemade salad dressing taste better, but it is also better for one's health. By gathering the ingredients and making the dressing
at home, it can have more of an exact, personal flavor. Also, if a diet plan is being followed, then the salad dressing can be made with low fat options. This is especially true with creamy salad dressing recipes.
Although there is a great debate that salad dressing sabotages the healthy aspects of a salad, it is such a vital part of a salad. A salad dressing can be made healthy and easily in the kitchen at home. Salad dressings recipes are great
to experiment with and are almost impossible to mess up. So the next time salad is going to served, get in the kitchen and mix away until the perfect salad dressing recipe is created. |
