The Condiment You Should Avoid Buying At The Grocery Store

Condiments are indisputable pantry essentials that can make or break a meal. While most condiments are worth buying at the store, there's one you're better off making at home: salad dressing. 

Salad dressings are deceptively complex. Although they come in many shades of flavors threaded with nuanced notes and toothsome undertones, salad dressings are surprisingly simple to make with common kitchen provisions. Matter of fact, you probably have the necessary items for a well-made salad topper in your pantry and fridge right now. A basic vinaigrette, for example, is a simple combination of oil and vinegar. Once you introduce herbs, citrus juice, and other fixings, you have a flavor-forward dressing that works with many different medleys of greens and grains. Even more robust dressings like ranch can be made with sour cream, mayonnaise, and herbs — and buttermilk is totally optional. Why waste money on an expensive store-bought salad dressing when you can make one with ingredients you already have? 

Even if you have to purchase the ingredients to prepare a salad dressing, they're typically versatile enough to incorporate into many other recipes, making it well worth the purchase. Not to mention that preparing a salad dressing is as easy as shaking, stirring, or blending the ingredients until they become one. Because you can make single-servings, homemade salad dressing is also a waste-free practice; gone are the days where you would throw out yet another crusty, quarter-used store-bought dressing. And as long as you can perfect your salad dressing ratios, you can tailor this condiment to your unique tastes and dietary preferences, which isn't always possible with store-bought varieties. 

Preparing an elixir to bathe your salad in might sound daunting at first, but don't overcomplicate it. Reach for a few basic ingredients, combine, and enjoy.

To add a garden-fresh trim to a Greek salad, prepare a red wine vinaigrette with olive oil, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, grated or powdered garlic, salt, pepper, and the sweetener of choice (think honey, maple syrup, or plain sugar). Shake it all up and pour over a plate of romaine, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta, and tomatoes. Feeling mythical? Make creamy green goddess dressing with Greek yogurt, leafy greens, herbs, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper, and pair it with a warm salad featuring charred chicken, quinoa, and mixed greens. For a hearty ranch dressing to pour over a crispy chicken salad, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk (if you have it), dill, parsley, garlic, chives, and lemon juice.

Don't be afraid to think creatively. Thin out pesto with oil and transform the sauce into an herbaceous topping for pasta salad, use leftover jam to make a fruity vinaigrette, or save tinned seafood oil and turn the liquid into a salty, savory dressing. Whatever you do, don't waste money on store-bought salad dressing when it takes little effort and time to craft one that's tailored to your taste buds from the comforts of your own home.