Making salad dressing at home is quick and inexpensive. Most dressings use basic pantry ingredients that you most likely already have on hand. I love this dressing because it’s creamy without adding mayonnaise or dairy.

This dressing goes particularly well on salads that contain fruit. Here are some ideas:

• strawberries
• raspberries
• peaches or nectarines
• mangoes
• apples

I also love adding a candied nut or seed like pecans, walnuts, almonds, or pumpkin seeds for a sweet and salty crunch. Toasting and candying nuts takes only a few minutes.

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How to Candy Nuts and Seeds

• Toast the nuts or seeds (1 cup) in a skillet over medium heat, tossing constantly so they don’t burn.
• Add a bit of butter to coat. (2 Tbsp)
• Add brown sugar. (2 Tbsp)
• Toss until nuts are coated and sugar is melted.
• Pour out onto parchment paper, spreading out the nuts in one layer.
• Sprinkle with Jay’s Spice or salt.
• Let cool before topping your salad.

Prep strategies

As always, I recommend making a double batch to use for the week or making a few dressings at a time and storing them in mason jars. For five more salad dressings using pantry staples, click here.