Toss that store bought salad dressing – Easiest Salad Dressing Ever!

One of my favorite salads is from a Build-your-own salad restaurant in downtown Seattle (in Pacific Place if you’re familiar with the area!). You are allowed to choose the type of lettuce, any 5 toppings and a salad dressing. Once I find something I like, I don’t venture much, so I always chose the delicious Balsamic Vinaigrette!

After a few weeks of eating at this restaurant, I realized I was spending too much money on lunch so I started making my own salads at home. We purchased the same ingredients that they offered at the salad bar, but we could not find a dressing that came close to what they offered. The store bought dressings were sweeter and they contained questionable ingredients such as sugar, MSG, preservatives and artificial colors. And the organic “clean” options were expensive!

That’s when I stumbled upon this salad dressing recipe. It is so simple that it really shouldn’t be called a recipe. Are you ready for it…it is 1 part Balsamic Vinegar to 2 parts Olive oil. That’s it! You can add a pinch of salt, but it really doesn’t need it. I will say that you do need to shake it up until the two ingredients mix together (about 1 minute). If you don’t do that, it will just taste like oil and vinegar – not bad but not delicious.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/4 cup Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup Olive Oil

Pinch of salt (optional)

Put all ingredients in a container with a lid, such as a small mason jar. Shake until well blended, about 1 minute