The Ratio Mistake That's Killing Your Homemade Salad Dressing

There's something inherently rewarding about making a dish entirely from scratch, no matter how simple or complicated it might be. Making your own salad dressing is no exception, especially since there are so many different variations that you can experiment with. In a sense, there are very few hard and fast rules to remember when it comes to making your own salad dressing — you can add essentially anything you'd like. Heck, you can even turn guacamole into salad dressing. That said, there are some rules that will make life easier for you as you experiment with your salad dressings.

While there are several mistakes you might make when whipping up your own salad dressings, perhaps the most critical mistake you can make is forgetting (or just not knowing) the rule surrounding your oil-to-vinegar ratio. As a rule of thumb, you traditionally need three parts oil to one part vinegar for the perfect homemade dressing. At its essence, this 3-to-1 ratio will ensure that your dressing is neither too tangy nor too greasy. Like all things culinary, balance is key.

One of the reasons this 3-to-1 ratio persists no matter what other ingredients you add is because it's a reliable way to properly emulsify your oil and vinegar ingredients, giving you an ideal combination of flavor and texture. Too much vinegar and the dressing becomes thin and acidic. Too much oil and the dressing risks becoming greasy and lifeless. That said, everyone has different tastes, and context is super important.

What you're consuming in and alongside your salad plays a huge role in how you make your dressing — a fact highlighted by just how difficult it is to pair wine with salad. Maybe you're making a salad that has to cut through some richer, bolder flavors. In that case, bumping up the acidity in your dressing might help to give your salad the kick it needs. Or maybe you're making a salad with other acidic ingredients such as citrus, and a simple oil dressing will do the trick just fine. 

Whether your acidic salad dressing base is balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even lemon juice (such as in this bleu cheese dressing recipe), and whether your oil is olive, sesame, sunflower, or anything else, your choices play a critical part in determining just how well this ratio rule might work for you. That said, it's still a good jumping-off point when creating your own dressings, but don't treat it as gospel, and don't be afraid to experiment!