This 5-Minute Dressing Makes Me Want To Eat Salad Every Day

It’s tangy, smooth, and totally craveable.

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

I’ve never been much of a salad person. Around my family dinner table growing up, salad made a regular appearance. Every night, my grandfather would ask me, salad tongs laden with leaves above the big wooden bowl, “Any for you, Devan?” My answer was always, “Not tonight, thank you!”

I’m happy to say that leafy salads are something I’ve grown into and come to love, even crave. I used to think the contents were the most important part, and was drawn to hearty salads with lots of mix-ins like croutons, beans, roasted veggies, or cooked grains. Recently, however, I’ve come to realize that the dressing is actually the game changer. If the dressing doesn’t taste good, it doesn’t matter what’s in the salad.

That’s where this thick, creamy, craveable date vinaigrette comes in. It’s as good on grain salads as it is on green salads, goes well with all sorts of mix-ins, takes just five minutes to make, and stores for up to a week. It’s a dressing that makes me want to put a big salad on the menu.

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

How To Make My 5-Minute Date Vinaigrette

To make four to six servings (3/4 cup of vinaigrette), you’ll need:

• 2 1/2 ounces pitted Medjool dates (about 6 dates), roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup water, plus more as needed
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, plus more to taste
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Add the chopped dates, water, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper to a blender jar. If you’re using an immersion blender, put the ingredients in a tall, narrow container that fits the immersion blender head. Process on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the oil and process on medium speed until emulsified, about 30 seconds. Check the consistency: if you want it thinner, add more water 1/2 tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency, blending for about 10 seconds after each addition.

Taste and season with more vinegar, salt, and pepper as desired. Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 1 week. Stir or shake really well before using.

Personalize It

My recipe sticks to classic vinaigrette flavors, with no added flavorings besides the dates. There’s plenty of room to adjust it to your taste based on what you’re going to use it for or what you have on hand. Here are some ways to personalize this vinaigrette:

• Change up the acid: I usually use apple cider vinegar for this recipe because I always have it in my pantry, but on days when I want something a little fancier, I’ll opt for balsamic or sherry vinegar instead. Lemon juice, white or red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar are also good options.
• Explore different mustards: Dijon mustard is the classic choice for vinaigrettes, and I like its mellow flavor here, but I’ve had good luck with mild German-style mustards as well; just note that the mustard flavor will be a bit sharper and stronger. If you don’t have anything else, yellow mustard will do in a pinch.
• Add other flavors: I like that this vinaigrette puts the focus solely on the sweet and sour pairing of dates and vinegar, but if you want to add more nuance, toss in a small clove of garlic (or garlic powder), a pinch of dried oregano, a small handful of fresh basil, mint, or parsley, or some chili flakes. You can also stir in minced shallot or thinly sliced scallions once the dressing is blended.

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

What If I Don’t Have a Blender?

A blender makes this vinaigrette super easy and quick to pull together, but if you don’t have one, you can make it by hand. Finely mince the dates, using the side and edge of a chef’s knife to press them into a paste against your cutting board. Once you have a paste, add it to a large bowl with the other ingredients and whisk together until emulsified and thickened; you can also add the ingredients to a resealable jar or container and shake it to combine. The vinaigrette won’t be as smooth, but it will still be incredibly delicious.

More Homemade Salad Dressings To Try

• 3-Ingredient Salad Dressing
• Vegan Caesar Dressing
• Chipotle Honey Vinaigrette
• Carrot Ginger Dressing
• Green Goddess Dressing
  

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