While we love our comfort foods, a cool, crisp bite of fresh homemade salad is equally as appetizing. To keep all the crunch without the wilt, it’s time to think through the best salad dressing for each type of salad. If your greens are tough and crunchy like endive or kale, they can stand up to a rich, creamy dressing. But more delicate greens like arugula or spring mix need a lighter vinaigrette that won’t weigh them down.
P.S. Don’t forget the healthy salad toppings you can add to any salad.
Arugula
Pair with: Sweet vinaigrettes
Flavorful and peppery, fresh arugula makes for a delightful lunch or dinner salad. While the flavor is strong, the leaves are delicate, so opt for a light, sweet vinaigrette. Achieve that perfect balance of savory and sweet with this strawberry arugula salad with feta.
Bibb lettuce
Pair with: Tangy vinaigrettes
Bibb lettuce looks crunchy like iceberg lettuce, but the leaves aren’t very crisp. Punch up the flavor and prevent wilting with a tangy vinaigrette like raspberry or tomato. Or toss some Bibb lettuce into this summery nectarine arugula salad for a light lunch.
Endive
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Never tried endive? Its bitter, thick leaves make a sturdy base for a salad or avocado endive cups. Endive’s tough leaves can stand up to creamy dressings like ranch or blue cheese. Now is not the time for a little vinaigrette; look for dressings with fat to offset the bitter bite.
Iceberg
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Crisp and tasteless, iceberg lettuce can handle any rich, creamy dressing you throw at it. Boost the flavor with a creamy dijon or cilantro salad dressing. Because iceberg has such a crunch, it makes a great base for a hearty meal like taco salad.
Kale
Pair with: Citrus vinaigrette
Kale salads can be tricky; the tough leaves need a little care. Try using a citrus vinaigrette; the acidity will help break down the leaves. Prep your kale salad an hour before your meal and massage the dressing into the leaves to soften them a bit. Look for an acidic dressing at the store or learn how to make vinaigrette at home.
Little Gem lettuce
Pair with: Citrus vinaigrette
You’ve probably passed Little Gem lettuce in the grocery store dozens of times without noticing it. It looks like a smaller romaine, and the leaves have a sweet taste. Little Gem lettuce doesn’t need a heavy dressing, so whip up an easy lemon vinaigrette.
Radicchio
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Bitter and tender, radicchio needs a rich dressing to balance the bitterness without weighing it down. Skip the blue cheese and look for a fresh basil salad dressing for a light dressing bursting with serious flavor.
Romaine
Pair with: Creamy dressings
If you haven’t branched out from iceberg salads yet, make the leap to romaine. It’s got the same crunch and flavor while being more nutritious. You can’t go wrong with a classic caesar dressing (make your own) with shaved Parmesan and homemade croutons.
Spinach
Pair with: Hot dressings
Quick to wilt, spinach leaves are delicate and do well with just a splash of light vinaigrette. And while it doesn’t make sense to pour a heavy dressing onto these sensitive leaves, somehow a hot bacon dressing always works, too. Make sure to hold off on dressing your salad until you’re sitting down and ready to eat.
Spring mix
Pair with: Tangy vinaigrette
Have you ever thrown out an entire container of spring mix because it wilted before you had the chance to use it? Us too. These soft leaves need to be used right away and pair well with a light vinaigrette and plenty of fresh, crunchy veggies. Try this tangy tomato dressing with chopped bell peppers for a bright lunch or snack.
Swiss chard
Pair with: Tangy and citrus vinaigrette
Swiss chard’s thin, tough leaves need a dressing that can break it down without overpowering it. Try an acidic vinaigrette with some sweetness to balance out the toughness. This tart, tangy citrus vinaigrette can help soften the leaves while keeping their crispness.
Watercress
Pair with: Creamy dressings
Watercress has the peppery flavor of arugula with the crunchy bite of iceberg. Go all-in with a creamy buttermilk salad dressing. It will complement the savory flavor and hearty crunch; other creamy dressings like ranch work as well.
Citrus Vinaigrette
Tart, tangy and citrusy flavors abound in this quick citrus vinaigrette recipe to whisk together any night of the week you've got the good greens to go with it. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing
In the wonderful world of vinegars, strawberry is the new raspberry, giving you a fresh way to put those ruby-red gems to good use. —Healthy Cooking Test Kitchen
Homemade Strawberry Vinegar
Sweet and sour, this easy strawberry vinegar makes a great summer salad dressing. —Mary Hise, Cocoa, Florida
Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
This distinctively flavored dressing makes a great accompaniment to a mix of fresh greens. The thick, creamy dressing does double duty at our house, I often serve it as a dip with vegetables. -- Christy Freeman, Central Point, Oregon
Italian Vinaigrette
What are all those specks and spices in your Italian dressing? You probably have them in your pantry. Create your own signature blend to toss with pasta, greens and fresh spring vegetables. —Lorraine Caland, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Low-Fat Tangy Tomato Dressing
This zesty blend is delicious over greens, pasta or fresh garden vegetables. I love that it's a healthier alternative to the oil-heavy versions sold in stores. —Sarah Eiden, Enid, Oklahoma
Cilantro Salad Dressing
Use this zippy dressing over greens or hot or cold boiled potatoes. You'll love it! —Sara Laber, Shelburne, Vermont
Cranberry Orange Vinaigrette
When I give jars of my Cranberry Vinegar, I'm certain to include this recipe. The vinaigrette pairs especially well with a green salad featuring dried cranberries, mandarin oranges and toasted walnuts. Or use it as a marinade for chicken and salmon.—Kathy Rairigh, Milford, Indiana
Buttermilk Salad Dressing
This thick creamy mixture has the flavor of ranch dressing and is a breeze to blend together. Use it to top mixed greens or as a dip for raw vegetables. —Vickie Floden of Story City, Iowa
Strawberry Vinaigrette
Pair this sweet and tart strawberry vinaigrette dressing with any salad for a fresh twist for summer. —Carolyn McMunn, San Angelo, Texas
Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix
This versatile recipe converts easily into a creamy dip or smooth dressing. It's delicious served with fresh veggies or drizzled over greens. —Carolyn Zimmerman, Fairbury, Illinois
Fresh Basil Salad Dressing
My sour cream and basil dressing has fancy bistro flavor. We serve it with salad; it’s also a tasty addition to baked potatoes, bread salads and veggies. —Deborah Comeaux, Pocomoke City, Maryland
Italian Herb Salad Dressing
This vinaigrette is a delicious dressing that I like to keep on hand for topping a variety of salad greens. —Dan Wright, San Jose, California
Honey-Mustard Salad Dressing
This delicious dressing has only four ingredients, but it's big on flavor. My family loves this thick, tangy golden topping over a mixture of fresh greens and mushrooms.—Joanne Hof, Los Alamos, New Mexico
Maple Balsamic Dressing
Sweet maple syrup and zesty balsamic vinegar lend bright flavors to crisp summer salads, tender grilled pork chops or luscious red strawberries. —Kim Sumrall, Aptos, California
Raspberry Vinegar
Looking for something tasty to make with fresh raspberries? This dressing adds summer-fresh flavor to salads. —Francy Nightingale, Issaquah, Washington
Apricot Orange Vinaigrette
This sweet and tangy citrus dressing perks up any salad, lending appeal to even a simple blend of mixed greens. Diana Rios - Lytle, Texas
Tangy Blue Cheese Dressing
Caramelized onions add a depth of flavor you won’t find in a store-bought dressing. As a sandwich spread, crostini topper or celery dip, keep this mixture on hand to add zip as needed. —Alisha Goins, Sabin, Minnesota
Homemade Mayonnaise
Pssst! Did you know America’s top-selling condiment and go-to dressing for chicken, tuna and potato salad can be prepared with a handful of everyday pantry items? This mayonnaise recipe will be a new favorite. —Taste of Home Test KitchenThe post The Best Dressing for Every Type of Salad Green appeared first on Taste of Home.
source https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/salad-dressing-pairing-guide/
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