Homemade salad dressings

Homemade salad dressings are customizable sauces used to flavor and moisten salads, typically made from a base of oil and an acid like vinegar or citrus juice. They often include herbs, spices, mustard, garlic, or sweeteners, and originate from various culinary traditions worldwide.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

These dressings are generally high in fat due to the oil base, but can be low in carbohydrates and protein depending on the recipe. A typical serving provides healthy unsaturated fats, vitamin E from oils, and various antioxidants from herbs and spices.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	90 kcal
Protein	0.1 g
Carbs	0.5 g
Fat	10 g
Fiber	0.1 g
Sugar	0.3 g
Sodium	120 mg
Vitamin E	1.5 mg
Vitamin K	8 µg
Potassium	15 mg
Magnesium	2 mg
Phosphorus	5 mg
Manganese	0.1 mg
Iron	0.2 mg
Copper	0.02 mg

Per 2 tablespoons (30 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, they represent a simple way to elevate fresh ingredients, with variations like Italian vinaigrette, French mustard-based dressings, or Asian sesame-ginger blends. Nutritionally, using quality oils and fresh ingredients allows for better control over sodium and additives compared to store-bought versions.