HOW TO DRESS YOUR SALAD
A few tips on dressing your salad at Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes or in your own home.
- Do not over dress, salad only needs about 1 teaspoon of dressing per person, as long as you toss it well.
- A lighter vinaigrette type dressing will allow the flavors of the salad to come through.
- A basic vinaigrette than can be tossed right on the salad is about 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar to 2 teaspoons oil. Sprinkle the vinegar on first, then toss, then sprinkle on the oil and toss again. If you do it the other way around, the oil will keep the vinegar from adhering to the leaves. Season with salt and pepper.
- Play with types of oil and vinegars you use. Try red or white wine vinegars or seasoned rice vinegar.
- Use vinegar somewhat sparingly as the taste can easily overpower all other flavors.
- Extra virgin olive oil is great, but you can play with the flavor by adding part nut oils, such as hazelnut or almond oil. A few drops of sesame oil will give your salad an exotic Asian flair.
- Substitute acidic fruit juice for all or part of the vinegar in a vinaigrette. Try using lemon, lime, orange, apple or pineapple juices.
- To add flavor and dimension to your vinaigrette dressings, try adding ingredients like minced shallot, garlic, ginger, onion or green onion. Play with the flavors by adding small amounts of flavoring ingredients such as mustard, honey, hot sauce or soy sauce.
- Small amounts of fresh herbs can add a whole new flavor dimension to salads and salad dressings. Try basil, thyme leaves, chives or tarragon. Experiment and have fun with herbs.
Do you have any dressing tips you want to share with us? We would love to hear them and share with our readers!
Salad tips courtesy of fab Foods. For more salad tips visit: http://www.fabulousfoods.com/articles/19913/tips-for-making-fabulous-green-salads
Recently enjoyed our first visit to Sweet Tomatoes in Schaumburg, IL! Izzy, our cashier, took very good care of us-thanks!