Table of Dressing Contents

This is a mental table that I have been compiling for some time now and I find it endlessly useful when throwing together a quick salad.  While salad dressings can definitely be more involved than this, I find that they all have these basics, and by following the lipid+acid+sweetener formula you can start to experiment with your own combinations and begin adding spices for complementary flavors.

Dressing	Lipid	Acid	Sweetener	Ideal Uses
Honey Lime	1 tbsp olive oil	2 tbsp fresh lime juice	2 tbsp honey	spinach and fruit, garden and corn salads
Honey Mustard	1/4 c. olive oil	2 tbsp spicy mustard	2 tbsp honey	salads with meat and cheese, also pairs well with apples
Creamy Balsamic	1/4 c. mayonnaise	1 tbsp balsamic vinegar	1/4 c. powdered sugar	fruit, nut, and strong cheese combinations
Raspberry Zinger	2 tbsp. olive oil	1 tbsp balsamic vinegar	1/4 c. raspberry jam	especially good with milder fruits, like pears and apples
Zesty Orange	2 tbsp. olive oil	1 tbsp balsamic vinegar	1/4 c. orange juice concentrate	citrus salads, cilantro