Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

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Looking for an easy salad dressing? Just like the one your Oma made? Here are several to choose from as starters and then alter them to make them just the way you love.

I've had so many requests for the type of dressing used in house salads in restaurants throughout Germany. I've researched and also asked our thousands of fans on Facebook for these. Below, are the delicious results.

You'll see many similarities and very little in the way of quantities. Basically, it's a bit of this and a bit of that ... just the way Oma's cook. Take a look at How to Make Salad Dressing for the basics , and then use the Salad Dressing Recipes section to create your own.

How to Make Salad Dressing

There are two basic types of dressings, the classic vinaigrette type and the creamy type. 

For the classic vinaigrette

• Use a ration of about 1 part acid to 3 parts oil
• Use a fine sea salt or kosher salt for best flavor
• If you add a sweetener such as sugar or honey, you can usually use less oil

For a creamy dressing

• Use sour cream, yogurt, heavy cream and just thin with a bit of acid

Some oils to use are olive, grapeseed, nut, and sesame.

Some acids to use are wine vinegars, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice.

Some creamy additions to use are buttermilk, mustard, sour cream, yogurt, and mayonnaise.

Try these seasonings and additions:

• Dill goes well with cucumbers
• Parsley goes well with tomatoes
• Season with any one or combination of paprika, cumin seed, fennel seed, or coriander seed
• grated onions
• Tarragon, thyme, mint, basil cilantro, chives
• Lemon zest

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Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

Try these combinations or mix & match:

• oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, a dash or two of Maggi
• 1 part olive oil, 1 part balsamic vinegar, 2 parts white vinegar, 2 parts water, salt, pepper, mustard
• olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, a bit of yogurt
• oil, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper, dash sugar, a bit of milk or yogurt
• oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, canned milk 
• 1 part mayonnaise, 1 part yogurt or sour cream, salt, pepper, a bit of lemon juice, a bit of garlic
• heavy cream mixed with a bit of vinegar, some mustard, salt, pepper
• creme fraiche, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, green onions
  
• olive oil, white wine vinegar, a bit of balsamico, sugar, salt, pepper, lemon juice, mustard
• olive oil, white vinegar, salt, pepper, a bit of heavy cream

YES! This is the Cucumber Salad Dressing!

This dressing, and variations of it, are traditional for a cucumber salad, but tastes so great on a lettuce salad as well. That was, to me, a "eureka" moment when I tried it for the first time.

I mean, it was THE dressing that always went on the cucumber salad. In fact, any dressing left over in the bowl after all the cucumbers slices were removed, was quickly scooped up by whoever got there first.

Why I never thought of putting over a lettuce salad really dumbfounds me. But the first time I did, it became a favorite!

More German Salad Recipes

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