Delicious Salad Dressings With Red Wine Vinegar
One of the easiest, healthiest, and most delicious creations of the culinary arts is a fresh, crisp salad. With bright colors, crunchy textures, and a variety of flavors, it is perfect, both as an accompaniment to a meal or as the main dish. And, the best way to bring out a salad's splendor is to create your own flavorful dressing. Tastier and much more cost effective than buying a bottle of dressing at the grocery store, a homemade red wine vinaigrette is the perfect way to dress a salad.
Keep freshness in mind when selecting salad ingredients. Look for tender, untarnished lettuce leaves, and stay away from those that look wilted, yellow, or dry. Feel free to contrast flavors and textures in a salad. Mix different types of lettuces and add colorful seasonal vegetables. Even some fruits like pears and berries work well in salads. As well, beans, nuts, and croutons can add crunch and texture. Salads are not just about iceberg lettuce. Be adventurous!
All vinaigrette dressings are a mixture of oil, an acid such as red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Once you have mixed these essential ingredients, you can experiment with any variety of herbs and spices. The proportion of oil to vinegar depends on your taste. A dressing of four parts oil to one part vinegar is a good starting point to begin mixing in additional ingredients. While olive oil is the most commonly used oil in vinaigrette, nut and vegetable oils can also produce delicious dressings.
Basic Red Wine Vinaigrette
Makes 2 cups
½ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 ½ cups olive oil
In a bowl or jar, combine vinegar, salt, pepper, and oil. Mix thoroughly. If made ahead, cover and refrigerate. Pour over salad and toss.
Herbed Mustard Vinaigrette
Prepare Basic Vinaigrette. Add 2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard. Mix in any variety of fresh, chopped herbs such as basil, oregano, tarragon, or mint. For extra flavor, add a minced clove of garlic or a chopped shallot.
Virtually any wine can be paired with a salad. Don't be afraid to try less common varietals such as Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc, or Malbec. Often times, these wines are less expensive and just as flavorful as any of the more common varieties. With a little experimentation, you might just find a new personal favorite!
