Here are my eight favourite easy salad dressings – great to keep in the fridge because they last for weeks! Toss with leafy greens, chopped salads, or drizzle over roasted and steamed veg. From French Vinaigrette to Balsamic and my go-to Asian Sesame, all of these take minutes to make.
Salad Dressing Recipes – standby essentials!
Whether it’s a quick side or a full meal-salad, having a dressing on hand is super handy! But most only last a few days because they use fresh ingredients like garlic or lemon that either spoil of lose flavour after a few days.
But there’s no need to grab a preservative-packed bottle from the shops! Some dressings naturally keep for weeks – no tweaking needed, just classic recipes made without quick-spoiling ingredients:
French Vinaigrette – A zingy classic made with vinegar, mustard, and oil. Sharp, simple, and so good, probably my most made classic dressing.
Honey Mustard Dressing – Sweet, tangy, and creamy, everyone’s favourite all-rounder. Particularly great with steamed greens because it’s a bit creamy so it’ clings better.
Asian Sesame Dressing – Soy sauce based dressing, great on anything from leafy greens to noodle salads. Probably my most used dressing.
Balsamic Vinaigrette – Tangy balsamic classic. A go-to for a reason.
Italian Salad Dressing – The one I pull out to impress! Full of flavour. Requires a bit more effort but boy it is worth it!
Pomegranate Molasses Dressing – Sweet-tart and bold, this one adds a Middle Eastern twist to salads and roasted veg.
Maple Dressing – Smooth and mellow with a hint of sweetness. Pairs beautifully with autumn salads and roasted roots.
Poppyseed Dressing – Summer favourite! Sweet and creamy with beautiful nutty flavour from the poppyseeds. Perfect for upgrading any salad!
Psst Standby dressings aren’t just for quick side salads. Like this gorgeous brown rice, shredded kale and broccoli and roasted pumpkin salad with the Pomegranate Dressing. Everybody say YUM!
Ready-to-use salad dressings
All of these salad dressing recipes keep for at least 2 weeks in the fridge. Fantastic standby to make a quick side salad or a more satisfying salad meal! I’ve create a separate post for each recipe so it’s easier to find later. 🙂
Italian Salad Dressing (left) – One of the all time favourite classics, made with dried herbs, garlic powder and parmesan cheese, the shelf life of this dressing is the shorter of 2 weeks or the parmesan cheese used. Don’t skip the parmesan! It really “makes” this.
French Vinaigrette (right) – The eschalots in this are an essential flavouring! The good news is that it continues to soften and flavour the dressing for 2 weeks. Beyond this, the dressing doesn’t go bad but the eschalot flavour fades. This is a really stunning restaurant classic.
Honey Mustard Dressing (left) – Made with mustard, honey, vinegar and olive oil, this beautiful dressing lasts for 3 weeks without the flavour fading. The consistency of this dressing is gorgeous – thick and creamy. And it’s not super sweet, it’s tangy with a touch of sweet.
Balsamic Vinaigrette (right) – The simplest of all dressings, one to know by heart. This one will last for up to 4 weeks, subject to the olive oil you use (see bottom of post re: olive oil shelf live).
Pomegranate Molasses Dressing (left) – A personal favourite, this is made with pomegranate molasses which has a syrupy consistency and is sweet and tangy. A classic Middle Eastern condiment that’s increasing in popularity throughout Western countries. Very sheik, vereeeee tasty! Great on leafy greens, roasted veg, beans, couscous, rice, quinoa.
Asian Sesame Dressing (right) – Probably my all time most used dressing because it’s made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, white vinegar, olive oil and sugar, and you can eye ball the measurements. Great to use for leafy greens, shredded greens or chopped veggies. And sashimi salads!
Maple Dressing (left) – Made with maple syrup, this is a fabulous tangy dressing with a touch of sweet. I use it on everything – leafy greens, chopped salads and roasted vegetables. I’ve kept this for over 2 weeks but see no reason why it won’t last for longer. Extra perfect with roasted pumpkin and sweet potato!
Poppyseed Dressing (right) – One of my favorites for summer! The poppyseeds aren’t just for aesthetics, they add a gorgeous nuttiness to the dressing that intensifies the longer the dressing is left to infuse. This keeps for 3 weeks, probably 4 but I haven’t tried that myself.
My kitchen has been a glorious vision this week. Mounds and mounds of greens, bottles and bottles of salad dressings. I ate salads for morning tea, lunch and dinner 3 days straight while I was preparing this post. Remember – 8 salad dressings. Eight. EIGHT!!!! EIGHT!!!! (Tested, photographed, filmed = 30+ batches)
I realise that most people don’t need a recipe video for how to make dressings, so this isn’t a recipe video. It’s to give you a visual of how handy it is to have ready-to-use dressings on hand, and salad ideas. Who ever thought that this former finance gal would one day be swooning over how beautiful salads are?☺️
Watch how to make it
How long can you keep homemade salad dressing?
I thought it would be useful to pop in a section here with some general information about the shelf life of homemade salad dressings.
Basically, the shelf life of the ingredients used in the dressing determines how long a dressing stays good. The two most common ingredients in dressings that go off / lose flavour are garlic and lemon juice. Fresh garlic is one of the things to watch out for – it can actually cause a nasty form of food poisoning called botulism. So please, be extra cautious with anything with raw garlic in it left in the fridge for more than a few days. Cooked and dried garlic is fine, and query store bought minced garlic because it’s been processed to extend the shelf life, but I don’t know if there is any consequence on shelf life once mixed with other ingredients.
Lemon juice loses acidity and flavour pretty quickly – within 48 hours in my experience. And the same applies to lime juice and other juices used in dressings.
So all the salad dressing recipes I have chosen are made with ingredients with a long shelf life. However, even these still need to be used within 3 weeks. The biggest factor is actually the olive oil. Good extra virigin olive oils should be consumed within 30 days after breaking the seal of the bottle because they start to lose flavour. This doesn’t apply as to normal olive oils used for cooking which don’t have as intense a flavour.
❤️TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU LOVE THE MOST!!!❤️
What’s are you go-to salad dressing recipes?? Do you make big batches so they’re ready to use on demand like I do?
Tell me which of these appeals to you the most!! – Nagi xx
LIFE OF DOZER
Dozer is very, very lucky that it never snows in Sydney… 😂 Can you believe someone gifted this hat to me? To ME. Not to Dozer.
This post is brought to you in partnership with David Jones, celebrating the launch of the Preprepared Fresh Produce line. The crispest of the crisp greens, fresh chopped ready-to-roast vegetables, pre-shredded slaws. A life saver during the busy festive season!
Hi Nagi & Dozer, 🙂
Do you happen to have a Caesar salad dressing recipe (vinaigrette based, not creamy)?
Thanks!
Corina
Hi Corina, I’m sorry I don’t. I’m not sure what a non creamy Caesar dressing is, though the poppyseed one (minus the poppyseeds and add anchovy and omit the small amount of mayo in it) would be the closest I can think of. 🙂
Thanks Nagi 🙂
I managed to find several on Google but your recipes are always so yummy I thought you might have a better one…you should try one though, they are a really good alternative to a creamy Caesar dressing. 🙂
Thanks for the tip Corina! Actually, I will, I really need to lighten up my diet and I adore Caesar Dressing. Are you using one made with yoghurt or sour cream instead of mayo?
Hello Nagi, Thanks for this great post. For Christmas day tea (evening meal) I am serving cold meats and salads and was wanting to make a potato salad that doesn’t have a creamy, mayonnaise based dressing. I was wondering which of your dressings would be best for a potato salad made with baby jacket potatoes and fresh herbs, I was thinking either your honey money dressing or maple syrup vinaigrette. Would really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks. Heidi
Hi Heidi! I love potato salad with a mayo dressing 🙂 I actually think the Honey Lemon one from the roasted potato salad is beautiful with potato salad. Just add a tiny bit of honey to taste – the dressing isn’t actually that sweet, it just takes that sharp edge off the lemon which is why I think it will be great with a herby potato salad! https://discountspot.info/roasted-sweet-potato-salad-honey-lemon-dressing/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I have been making your honey mustard dressing for about a year. It is my favorite. Store-bought dressing is so not an option. Homemade is amazing – and so easy.
I totally agree Sheri!! ❤️ N xx
my comment dissappeared, could you check your SPAM, please?
Awww I’m sorry about that! Checking now 🙂 N x
Omg this is such an amazing post! I’m a big fan of salads but let’s be real, it’s the dressing that makes a salad great! I just know all these are going to be so yummy! I can’t wait to make my salads taste beyond with these!
Thanks Beeta!! Hope the festive season is going amazing for you and your fam! N x
Nagi I can’t wait to make these. I only buy two store bought dressings because the dressings don’t matter that much for what I’m using them for but I always make my own for my salads for everything else. Whenever we go anywhere I’m always asked to bring one of my salads. This is going to be so much fun trying all of these. They sound wonderful. Thank you.
I’m so glad you like the look of these Norma! I do hope you try some! N x
Can’t wait to try some of your salad dressings! Creamy Balsamic is one of my favorites – basically add a little mayo to a good balsamic dressing.
Another family favorite is this Citrus Dressing paired with red leaf lettuce. halved grapes, mandarin oranges, chopped green onions, and toasted slivered almonds.
2/3 cup vegetable oil (not olive oil)
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar
3 TB red wine vinegar
salt to taste
dash dry mustard
1 t celery seeds – opt.
2 TB chopped parsley, garnish at end
Ohhhh Teresa! I love this dressing, I must try it soon. Thank you so much for sharing it! I’m thinking it will be fabulous for a Christmas salad 🙂
Oooh, I like! I like it a lot! 🙂 I don’t make dressings much and when I make one it’s usually just the simple balsamic vinaigrette. Thanks for all those dressing ideas – definitely trying them soon!
Oooh yep, definitely one of my most made! N x
THANK YOU! I love to make my own dressings but I find it tricky getting the ratios right – particularly when the original recipe makes a bigger quantity than I need. You have done all the work for me by giving quantities for different serving sizes. Wonderful! I also love that you’ve included details on shelf life.
I honestly cannot pick a favourite dressing out of these but I definitely want to try that Italian one with the Parmesan Cheese added. Yum!
I am printing these recipes out for easy reference. Just on a technical note – no picture is coming through with the Italian Dressing recipe (after pressing the “print recipe” button. The rest look beautiful. Once again, thank you!!
Thank you so much for picking that up Belinda! I’ve fixed it 🙂 So glad you find these useful! I was actually thinking I might put them in a condensed form all on one page too 🙂 Thought that might be useful!
Dressing can really make or break a salad!
I love a good vinaigrette or Asian sesame dressing.
I totally agree Chelsey! 🙂
Don’t ever think Blah!!! Such a great post…After trying your dressings I will report…I love that your readers are including their favorites as well….:)
PS my usual salad dressing…chopped garlic, salt, lemons + olive oil…wisk all them add salad ingredients on top…don’t mix until ready to serve…(delicious… no brainer)
That’s my go-to as well! 🙂 Thanks for the vote of confidence, I really should do more “must knows” even if I think they are a bit boring! 😉 N x
Do you have a recipe for Creamy Garlic Dressing? I’m from Chicago and now live west and you can’t get Creamy Garlic Dressing anywhere west of the Mississippi. Thanks in advance.
Hi Arleen! I’ve used this one before and it was delish! I increase the garlic to 5 🙂 http://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-garlic-dressing-81986
Dear Nagi, Thank you so much for the Creamy Garlic dressing recipe. Anxious to try this and several of your other dressings. Best wishes! Arleen Carramusa
I finally got around to making this wonderful dressing. And yes, 5 cloves is a must. I put the full amount of sugar in and it is a bit too sweet for me. Will cut it way back and slowly increase to my taste. As I’m the only one eating it (just my hubby and I) I also use it as a dip for chips, pretzels, veggie sticks, etc. Yummy!
I am absolutely in love with Dozer! Years back we had a black lab/golden retriever, Puppy, who was a true love. He loved people and I accumulated many used bow ties from tuxedo rentals. When I put one on him he would prance around knowing company was coming, He also would show off break-dancing skills as entertainment. He passed at a ripe old age (for labs) of 15. Dozer reminds me so much of our beloved Puppy.
Also, thank you for your wonderful, sensible dishes. Slowly trying most of them.
Sincerely, Arleen
Ohhhh! A black lab cross goldie? He must’ve been SO CUTE!!! And bow ties?? OK, now I have to get one for Dozer!! I am glad he made it to 15, that is a long life for a goldie. 🙂 I bet you miss him. N xx
The French dressing for sure! I make my own version of Asian Sesame Ginger dressing that we love. It’s very similar to yours, but with ginger, Rice vinegar, Mirin and canola instead of EVO.
I love a good Nicoise salad, but have yet to find the “right” dressing recipe. And Americanized french dressing is so very gross, and Orange! (you can see one brand here: http://www.wish-bone.com/products/deluxe-french-salad-dressing/) Ewww!
So I am super excited about your post and plan to put it to use as soon as I am able.
That’s sold as a Nicoise dressing?? Gosh, quite different to what I know! My friend posted a classic recipe -> https://pinchandswirl.com/easy-salad-nicoise/ It’s simple and beautiful!
It’s the only type I’ve ever seen sold as “French”. No one here sells a Nicoise dressing per se.
Thanks so much for the recipe link!
I love Dozer he has such a sweet face
That face is very effective at getting him what he wants…. N x
This is quite possibly the best recipe post I’ve ever read. A mutual friend told me about you about a year ago (nothing to do with food – as a former corporate slave turned business owner she was showing me you can enjoy a life beyond corporate I think. Jess R?). Anyway I’m in the UK so a) I could use the hat and b) we’re not eating a lot of salad right now. Brrr! So that they keep for up to 3 weeks is genius. I feel like a total bozo. How did I not know that it’s the garlic and lemon that turn the dressings! I thought I knew about food! That alone is priceless. My daughter and I are total foodies. She’s only 9 but dressings are her speciality. They’re darn good too. She’ll love this. I also have to tell you that when I first came across your blogs I remember reading that there were no cauliflower pizzas here! Well I’m coeliac and my daughter is lactose intolerant. But we don’t like eating ‘gluten free’ or ‘dairy free’ food. We just like good fresh food that happens not to have those ingredients in. So many of your recipes work for us or can be adapted. I genuinely look forward to your posts.
Dozer would be so thankful if you popped by to take the hat! 😉 I’m so glad you enjoyed this post, it was a lot of work and totally worth it, I was really glad to finally do it! OK – 9 yo and already ruling dressings? What a champion! N x PS I have tried cauliflower pizza…several times actually. I honestly just don’t enjoy it that much unless it is MASSIVELY loaded with cheese, in which case it’s actually more of a cheese crust!
Hi Nagi, such a great selection of dressings! My favourite would have to be the asian sesame dressing, but as for the pomegranate molasses I have never tried that – it sounds delicious, I will be giving that a go!
Thanks Hope!! The pomegranate one is really good! It’s like balsamic dressing, but slightly sweeter and that fruity undertone. It’s so so good! I love using it for quick bowls as well, even rice + canned tuna + chopped veggies + dressing = quick delish dinner!
OMG!! The hat! Oooooh! I can just see what an impression Dozer would make. And we make our own salad dressings and since there are so many flavored balsamic vinegars and olive oils we are never at a loss for salad flavors. Really, I’ve gotten so lazy. One of our favorite salad dressing combination is bacon flavored olive oil with hickory flavored balsamic. Just a splash of both on the salad and that is all we need. We have a maple balsamic that I’m anxious to try along with a chocolate 🙂
BACON flavoured oil??? SCREECH!!!
My usual salad dressing is just balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Of the ones you’ve posted my favorite would be the Asian sesame, followed by pomegranate molasses (finally a use for my bottle that I’ve had sitting unopened for several years). I like salad dressings that don’t take much effort, and which don’t include raw garlic or onion.
Glad you finally have an excuse to crack open that bottle! 🙂 Hope you enjoy it Susan! N x
Can’t wait to try them all. I loved the video. Can you tell me where you purchased the jar the french dressing is pictured in?
Hi Chavella! I got it from my local discount store actually 🙂 I love it!! I can’t find it online unfortunately 🙁
I love all the dressings you have posted. My favorite is usually a simple vinaigrette, using fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar because I am crazy for anything lemon!
I hear you Mary! I know you can make dressings with bottled lemon juice that will last for a while but it just isn’t the same as fresh! 🙂 N x