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Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Emily Nabors Hall / Julia Bayless
The pièce de resistance of any tasty salad is the dressing that adds flavor and moisture to every bite. After all, a Caesar salad is only as good as its creamy dressing, and there’s nothing like a tried-and-true vinaigrette to add an extra pop of freshness to a clean-out-the-fridge salad. That’s why we pulled together this mix of four- and five-star salad dressing recipes that have kept our readers coming back for more. You know you can depend on recipes like our Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing and Lemon-Shallot Dressing to make your next salad sing.
01of 18Creamy Lemon-Garlic DressingView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Emily Nabors Hall / Julia BaylessThis creamy lemon-garlic dressing carries the full flavor of roasted garlic, with lemon juice and Dijon mustard rounding out the flavor.
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Creamy Lemon-Garlic Dressing
View Recipe
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Emily Nabors Hall / Julia Bayless
This creamy lemon-garlic dressing carries the full flavor of roasted garlic, with lemon juice and Dijon mustard rounding out the flavor.
02of 18Meyer Lemon VinaigretteView RecipePhotography / Brie Passano, Styling / Sammy Mila / Holly RaibikisOnce you try this easy vinaigrette recipe, you’ll want to use it in every meal. Meyer lemon adds acidity, while the sweetness from the honey and the sharpness from the shallot counterbalance to create a bright, flavorful vinaigrette.
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Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
Photography / Brie Passano, Styling / Sammy Mila / Holly Raibikis
Once you try this easy vinaigrette recipe, you’ll want to use it in every meal. Meyer lemon adds acidity, while the sweetness from the honey and the sharpness from the shallot counterbalance to create a bright, flavorful vinaigrette.
03of 18Caesar Salad DressingView RecipeDouble this recipe to have extra dressing on hand for tomorrow night’s salad.
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Caesar Salad Dressing
Double this recipe to have extra dressing on hand for tomorrow night’s salad.
04of 18Citrus VinaigretteView RecipeThis versatile citrus salad dressing gets a touch of natural sweetness from orange juice, which balances the acidity of the lemon juice. Use it in coleslaw for a mayo-free dressing, or drizzle it over winter greens with dried fruit and nuts.
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Citrus Vinaigrette
This versatile citrus salad dressing gets a touch of natural sweetness from orange juice, which balances the acidity of the lemon juice. Use it in coleslaw for a mayo-free dressing, or drizzle it over winter greens with dried fruit and nuts.
05of 18Lemon-Garlic VinaigretteView RecipeEva KolenkoWhile a 1-to-2 acid-to-oil ratio is common for vinaigrette, shifting it to 1-to-1½ yields a dressing with a brighter flavor and fewer calories. That means for every ½ cup of acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, use 3/4 cup of oil. Here’s a good all-purpose take on the formula.
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Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Eva Kolenko
While a 1-to-2 acid-to-oil ratio is common for vinaigrette, shifting it to 1-to-1½ yields a dressing with a brighter flavor and fewer calories. That means for every ½ cup of acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice, use 3/4 cup of oil. Here’s a good all-purpose take on the formula.
06of 18Greek Salad DressingView RecipeThis simple Greek vinaigrette is so easy to make and so finger-licking good you’ll never want to go back to bottled dressing again! Drizzle it over classic Greek salad, a green salad or even use it as a marinade for grilled vegetables or chicken.
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Greek Salad Dressing
This simple Greek vinaigrette is so easy to make and so finger-licking good you’ll never want to go back to bottled dressing again! Drizzle it over classic Greek salad, a green salad or even use it as a marinade for grilled vegetables or chicken.
07of 18Lemon-Tahini DressingView RecipeJason DonnellySpoon this tangy dressing over cooked broccoli, green beans, salad or poached fish.
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Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Jason Donnelly
Spoon this tangy dressing over cooked broccoli, green beans, salad or poached fish.
08of 18Lemon-Shallot DressingView RecipePhotography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely / Ali RameeThis quick dressing features lemon juice and shallots for a simple, bright flavor. A touch of honey balances the acidity and tartness of the lemon. Use in a pasta salad or over leafy greens.
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Lemon-Shallot Dressing
Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely / Ali Ramee
This quick dressing features lemon juice and shallots for a simple, bright flavor. A touch of honey balances the acidity and tartness of the lemon. Use in a pasta salad or over leafy greens.
09of 18Creamy Roasted Garlic DressingView RecipeJason DonnellyMade with mellow roasted garlic and chicken broth, this creamy dressing is perfect with a simple salad of romaine lettuce and red onion rings or with a main-dish salad.
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Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing
Made with mellow roasted garlic and chicken broth, this creamy dressing is perfect with a simple salad of romaine lettuce and red onion rings or with a main-dish salad.
10of 18Basil VinaigretteView RecipeDrizzle this basil salad dressing over sliced tomatoes or cooked green beans. Or toss it into a grain salad for a pop of fresh summertime flavor.
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Basil Vinaigrette
Drizzle this basil salad dressing over sliced tomatoes or cooked green beans. Or toss it into a grain salad for a pop of fresh summertime flavor.
11of 18Tahini DressingView RecipeJason DonnellyTahini adds richness to this creamy dressing. Its nutty flavor will enliven any salad.
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Tahini Dressing
Tahini adds richness to this creamy dressing. Its nutty flavor will enliven any salad.
12of 18Cucumber Herb VinaigretteView RecipeAs the base of this herb-spiked dressing, pureed cucumber provides a mellow grassy flavor and a luxurious texture. Pureeing vegetables into a salad dressing is a great way to give it body (and to sneak in more low-cal vegetables). Experiment with tomatoes, arugula and/or roasted garlic to create your own dressing magic.
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Cucumber Herb Vinaigrette
As the base of this herb-spiked dressing, pureed cucumber provides a mellow grassy flavor and a luxurious texture. Pureeing vegetables into a salad dressing is a great way to give it body (and to sneak in more low-cal vegetables). Experiment with tomatoes, arugula and/or roasted garlic to create your own dressing magic.
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Tomatillo Ranch Dressing
14of 18Honey-Mustard VinaigretteView RecipeHere is a great, all-purpose salad dressing. The pleasing pungency of Dijon mustard makes it a good match for slightly bitter greens, such as escarole, chicory, radicchio or Belgian endive. It also makes an irresistible dipping sauce for crunchy vegetables (especially fennel) and crusty whole-wheat bread.
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Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette
Here is a great, all-purpose salad dressing. The pleasing pungency of Dijon mustard makes it a good match for slightly bitter greens, such as escarole, chicory, radicchio or Belgian endive. It also makes an irresistible dipping sauce for crunchy vegetables (especially fennel) and crusty whole-wheat bread.
15of 18Cilantro-Lime VinaigretteView RecipeOrange juice and cilantro yield a tangy dressing that you’ll want to have on hand.
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Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette
Orange juice and cilantro yield a tangy dressing that you’ll want to have on hand.
16of 18Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette with LemonView RecipeA healthy, tasty homemade salad dressing is as simple as shaking a few ingredients in a jar.
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Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette with Lemon
A healthy, tasty homemade salad dressing is as simple as shaking a few ingredients in a jar.
17of 18Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette with ShallotsView RecipeThis healthy homemade salad dressing has just the right amount of sweetness without being cloying. Try it on a salad with fresh strawberries and spinach or arugula.
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Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette with Shallots
This healthy homemade salad dressing has just the right amount of sweetness without being cloying. Try it on a salad with fresh strawberries and spinach or arugula.
18of 18Mint VinaigretteView RecipeThis brightly flavored lemon-mint vinaigrette recipe is an ideal dressing for mixed green salads or grain salads, such a quinoa or freekah, topped with fresh fruit.
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Mint Vinaigrette
This brightly flavored lemon-mint vinaigrette recipe is an ideal dressing for mixed green salads or grain salads, such a quinoa or freekah, topped with fresh fruit.
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