When we think of spring, we think of longer days, warmer weather, and the beginning of fresh fruits and vegetables. Soon we will have fresh rhubarb, grapefruit, kiwi, and other spring fruits. Spring harvests of cole crops will be available soon as well. And if you’re lucky you’ll be able to pick some up from your local farmers market.
Cole crop is a general term used to describe broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and kohlrabi whose seeds can be planted in colder temperatures. Harvesting these veggies at the right stage of maturity results in nutritious, top-quality produce that are perfect for a healthy and delicious spring salad.
What goes with a fresh spring salad better than an olive oil or balsamic vinegar-based dressing? Homemade salad dressings are so easy to make and so delicious. Olive oil is a versatile ingredient and complements so many different flavors. We absolutely love experimenting with it. Which is why we opened Primo in the first place.
Making your own olive oil-based dressings is a great way to reduce the number of processed foods in your home and to get your servings of heart-healthy fats.
We’ve gathered up a couple of salad dressing recipes that sound delicious. Make sure to share your favorites in our Facebook community, Louisville Loves Gourmet.
Basic Vinegarette 
There’s no place better to start than the basics. A classic vinaigrette is a combination of your favorite olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It’s so easy to whip up and adds a ton of flavor to a simple salad. If you want to have some fun with it, choose one of our flavored Extra Virgin Olive Oils such as our Garlic Olive Oil.
Mandarin 
Chicken Salad Dressing
This is a recipe we love to make to go with a Mandarin Chicken Salad. It’s a fresh, flavorful salad packed with superfoods. For the dressing, all you need to do is combine six tablespoons of our Roasted Walnut EVOO with two tablespoons of Tangerine Balsamic. It’s tangy and perfect for dinner in the yard on a warm spring evening.
This one is a more complex recipe. You’ll need, of course, olive oil, but also lime juice, cilantro, garlic, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. It’s a zesty dressing that works great with Mexican food such as a Mexican Chopped Salad, or a Guacamole Salad.
If you want to add protein to your meal, whip up some shrimp and use this dressing as a marinade. It’s a match made in heaven.
Cilantro Lime Salad Dressing 
This one is a more complex recipe. You’ll need, of course, olive oil, but also lime juice, cilantro, garlic, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. It’s a zesty dressing that works great with Mexican food such as a Mexican Chopped Salad, or a Guacamole Salad.
If you want to add protein to your meal, whip up some shrimp and use this dressing as a marinade. It’s a match made in heaven.
Honey Balsamic Vinegarette
This recipe would be a great topping for a salad with nuts or apple slices. Like so many dressings, it’s very simple to make. Combine the following ingredients in a jar: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper – then shake it up! It’s as easy as 1-2-3.
Add some pizazz by using our Red Apple Balsamic. Is your mouth watering yet?
Greek Salad Dressing 
In just five minutes you can make a Greek Salad Dressing that is better than anything that can be store-bought. What is in a Greek Salad? A traditional Greek salad contains diced tomatoes, cucumbers, green bell peppers, red onions, olives, and feta cheese but it is not complete without the dressing.
To put together the Greek Salad Dressing you will need: red wine vinegar, olive oil, freshly squeezed lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. First, you’ll whisk together all of the ingredients except the olive oil. Once those are mixed, slowly pour in the olive oil while whisking vigorously.
There are infinite possibilities when it comes to making your own salad dressings at home, especially with the flavor choices we have at Primo. We encourage you to experiment and find combinations that you love. And as we mentioned before, make sure to share those ideas and recipes with us over at Louisville Loves Gourmet!
