Five salad dressings to know by heart

Preparation

1. Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 30ml white wine vinegar
• 30ml water
• 1 tablespoon of French mustard
• 200ml vegetable oil
• salt and pepper

Whisk in a bowl the vinegar, water, mustard and salt and pepper. With a blender running, add the oil and process until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper. This classic dressing fits every salad. 

2. Tomato dressing

Ingredients:

• 15 sweet cherry tomatoes
• 150ml extra virgin olive oil
• 10 basil leaves
• 40ml red wine vinegar
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• salt and pepper

Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan and slowly cook the tomatoes. Simmer for five minutes. Leave to cool.    
Add the vinegar, basil and salt and pepper, mix the ingredients until well blended and then add the chopped shallot. 
Salt and pepper to taste. This dressing goes well with Mediterranean salads.

3. Soy dressing

Ingredients:

• 150ml of sunflower oil
• 1 Clove garlic, finely chopped
• 1/3 red chili pepper, finely chopped (hot, mild or sweet to your liking)
• 2 Tablespoons sesame oil
• 100ml of light soy sauce
• 4 Spring onions, finely chopped

Put the garlic, the chili and the oil in a small saucepan.  Let simmer for two minutes and remove from heat. Allow to cool and mix with the rest of the ingredients. 
This dressing fits with several salads, but the best is with an Asian style salad. 

4. Balsamic dressing

Ingredients:

• 200ml extra virgin olive oil
• 100ml Balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon of mustard
• Salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients and bring to taste with salt and pepper. A good addition to Italian salads. 

5. Mango lime dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 mango
• 1 lime (juice and zest)
• 1 teaspoon of mustard
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

Peel the mango and cut the flesh from the seed, then purée with mustard, lime juice, vinegar and oil in a blender. Bring to taste with the zest and salt. Best in Asian salads.