Balsamic Vinaigrette - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What are some common mistakes to avoid when making vinaigrette? ›

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

Generally speaking, the healthiest salad dressing will be a vinaigrette like balsamic or oil and vinegar, while Caesar, ranch or anything with the word “creamy” will be the unhealthiest.

Stabilizers and Emulsifiers

Such ingredients are called stabilizers. When a stabilizer is suspended throughout a vinaigrette, its tiny particles get between the droplets of vinegar and help keep them from bumping into each other and recombining. Thus, the vinegar droplets stay suspended longer.

An emulsifier is used in a vinaigrette to stabilize the oil and vinegar. Common emulsifiers include egg yolks, soy lecithin, and mustard. These ingredients all include lecithin--the stabilizing compound. In many vinaigrettes, mustard is the go-to stabilizer.

In addition to white wine vinegar, red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

Traditional vinaigrette recipes call for a ratio of three parts oil to one part vinegar. However, some people—like me—prefer their dressings to pack more punch and choose a 2:1 oil-to-vinegar ratio.

A few of the unhealthiest salad dressings include creamy Caesar, creamy Italian, ranch, and Russian dressing. For example, two tablespoons of store-bought creamy Caesar dressing contains 190 calories and 20 grams of fat,4 as compared to 90 calories and 9 grams of fat in the same serving of balsamic vinaigrette.

It has a rich and balanced taste that brings out the value of the ingredients and gives a unique touch to both simple foods and elaborate dishes. Here are some ideas for making the most of the Balsamic Vinegar of Modena according to Italian tradition.

Giuseppe Giusti Deposito Balsamic Vinegar of Modena

This vinegar can be lightly drizzled on top of vanilla ice cream or fresh strawberries, sipped as a digestif, or used to dress fresh ripe tomatoes or a salad.

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

Caesar dressing. Made up of mayonnaise, cheese, salt and oil (and all too often, anchovies), Caesar tends to be one of the least healthy options out there. Those ingredients cause it to be high in both saturated fats and sodium.

Last but not least, consuming balsamic vinegar can have an anti-inflammatory effect as well. Long-term, high levels of inflammation can be extremely detrimental to your health, and research shows inflammation plays a role in whether you develop chronic conditions, diseases, and even cancer.

Creamy Dressings

Other dressings like blue cheese, Caesar, parmesan, or chipotle all fall under this category of dressings to avoid. Not only are they loaded with fat, but they also have high levels of sodium and very little nutritional value.

According to Reader's Digest, oil-based salad dressings, such as a balsamic vinaigrette or Italian dressing, tend to last longer than mayo-based dressings. In general, these dressings can last for up to a few weeks (via Know Your Pantry). However, once they've expired, they will give off a noticeable rancid smell.

Homemade salad dressings incorporate a variety of fresh ingredients such as fresh garlic, herbs, and citrus juices, which contribute to a very delicious and vibrant taste. However, these ingredients are perishable and, therefore, can shorten the dressing's shelf life.