Incapable of making a salad dressing!

[Thatsnotmybody]

Trying to eat more fruit and veg, usual thing. Made a lovely big salad to go with lunch and tried to make a salad dressing - olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and a bit of mustard. Somehow always comes out both sour and bland. Hate the shop bought ones because they're so sweet. What am I doing wrong??? Help please!

[LadyPenelopeCantDance]

Balsamic glaze is your friend. Doesn’t need anything else!

[8FencingWire]

I put garlic, olive oil, mustard seeds and balsamic vinegar. Give it a good good shake. It’s good immediately afger preparing, the next day is even better.
HTH

[Wh0KnowsWhereTheT1meG0es]

What oil and vinegar did you use? I use sunflower and white wine, 4tbsp vinegar to 150mL oil with 2-3 teaspoons Dijon mustard and freshly ground salt and pepper. It’s easy to adjust after tasting.

[JellyTeapot]

Two parts extra virgin olive oil to one part vinegar (balsamic, red wine, white wine , sherry etc), add salt, pepper and a good dollop of mustard to thicken, give it all a thorough shake in an old jam jar. Never fails!

[Nemesia]

I use sesame oil and soy sauce with a squeeze of lime juice.

[Thatsnotmybody]

Great ideas, thanks. Think I'm using the wrong vinegar (malt) and putting too much in, about 50/50 with the oil. Will experiment with the ideas above!

[MsHippo]

The simplest answer is posh wine or cider vinegar! I by heinously expensive red wine vinegar which is delicious alone. Generally I just dress with a slosh of that, a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper straight into the salad and it's very nice.

[MsHippo]

*buy!!

[bombcyclone]

It's a nightmare unless you mix things in the proper order. Then it's a breeze.

Vinegar (white wine) and mustard (Dijon) first. Whisked together well.

Then, bit by bit, the oil (I use olive), whisking vigorously as you add and slowing/stopping if it starts to separate.

It will emulsify and be lovely if you don't go too quickly with the oil. Truly.

Always thought it was a great mystery. But it's a snap once you get the hang of it.

[BigRoundGlasses]

I do a ratio of 5:1 olive oil: vinegar which is what Delia Smith recipe says I think and balsamic vinegar best IMO

[Sillybilly1234]

Buy Paul Newman's salad dressing. It is the best and not sweet. I normally pour off some of the oil first so more sharp and less fatty / oily.

Also some money goes to charity whenever you buy it.