I know that sounds hyperbolic but take it from someone who thinks salad is anathema in the cold months. And here in Pittsburgh, that would be 3/4 of the year — in this tropical girl’s definition of “cold”.
Hence, while I love vegetables, this ditty from The Simpsons has been my anthem for years.
Until my stepmama-in-law, friend and all around beautiful woman, Tina Shannon, introduced me to this salad dressing. Its one of the best uses of herbs this side of California and Colorado. You know you have that marjoram you bought a while back for that one recipe. And tarragon, wow, we use it almost as stingily as we use saffron, that thing is potent – there’s a thin sprinkle in between “French” and “tastes like earth.” So if you make this your house dressing and have it on hand all season long, those bottles will finally see some rotation in your spice rack.
I like to use this dressing on a crispy romaine salad tossed with mesclun, cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, thinly sliced radishes, chickpeas, pumpkin or sunflower seeds and a hefty sprinkling of fresh parsley and scallions. Bring this to a picnic and prove Homer wrong. In fact, make Dale Carnegie proud. Win friends! Influence people!
Tina’s Dressing: Creamy Lemon Herb Dressing
Makes 3 cups
2 c. extra virgin olive oil
2 oz. garlic (about 1 head), chopped
2 tsp. tarragon
½ tsp. thyme
½ tsp. marjoram
1/8 tsp. rubbed sage
½ tsp. rosemary
1 ½ T. basil
2 ½ T. oregano
1-2 tsp. salt
1/2 – 1 tsp. pepper
1 c. lemon juice
1 T maple syrup (optional)
Place in blender and blend together OR place in a wide neck bottle and emulsify with your immersible blender.
So, I am finally out of the dressing you gave me. (I’ve been adding a little oil and lemon juice to make it last…forever) AND sadly, I don’t have tarragon or marjoram. Looks like I will need to go to the spice store tomorrow!
Its worth it!! :)
You didn’t state if you use fresh herbs or dried herbs for “best salad dressing ever”
Hi Angelica — I used dried herbs — its a great dressing to use up your stock since you have to keep the turnover of those going!
After it chills in a mason jar for a day I like to blend it to a thick cream. Ohhhh my with feta just heavenly.
Delicious! Thanks for introducing me to my new favourite dressing! I needed something new :)
So glad you liked it Brigid!!