DIY Creamy Salad Dressing with Tarragon Vinegar & Lime
A delicious homemade mayonnaise-based salad dressing from scratch, using neutral vegetable oil, fresh eggs, tarragon-infused vinegar, lime juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and white pepper. This creamy and tangy dressing is packed with flavor and the perfect complement to a fresh, vibrant salad.
Ingredients
Ingredients for Dressing
- 300 mL neutral oil e.g., sunflower oil, not olive oil
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 whole egg
- 3 tbsp tarragon-infused vinegar
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tsp mustard
- Freshly cracked white pepper a few rounds
- A good pinch of salt
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
Salad Ingredients
- 1 bag of pre-washed mixed salad greens
- A handful of walnuts
- A handful of dried cranberries
- A handful of cherry or plum tomatoes
Instructions
Combine Ingredients
- In a narrow cylindrical container (that fits your immersion blender), add the oil, egg yolks, whole egg, tarragon vinegar, lime juice, mustard, white pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper.
Blend the Dressing
- Insert the immersion blender all the way to the bottom of the container.
- Start blending and slowly move the blender upward until the mixture emulsifies into a smooth, slightly thin dressing (not thick like mayonnaise).
Transfer the Dressing
- Pour the dressing into a squirt bottle or a jar for easy use. Set aside.
Prepare the Add-Ins
- Roughly chop the walnuts into smaller pieces.
- Roughly chop the dried cranberries to make them less chewy and easier to blend into the salad.
- Slice the cherry or plum tomatoes into bite-sized pieces (halve small ones, cut larger ones into thirds).
Combine the Salad
- In a large bowl, add the mixed salad greens, chopped walnuts, chopped cranberries, and sliced tomatoes.
- Toss everything gently to mix well.
Dress the Salad
- Add the Dressing
- Drizzle a generous amount of the prepared dressing over the salad. Don’t be stingy—you want the salad to be well-coated.
- Toss the Salad
- Gently toss the salad again to ensure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
Serve and Enjoy
- Plate the Salad
- Transfer the dressed salad to serving plates or a large salad bowl.
Optional Adjustments
- Taste and adjust seasoning if needed (e.g., add more salt, pepper, or a squeeze of lime if desired).
- Serve immediately and enjoy the flavorful, non-boring salad!
Tips
- Dressing Variations: Add garlic or herbs to the dressing for extra flavor.
- Salad Variations: Swap walnuts for almonds or pecans, and cranberries for raisins or pomegranate seeds.
- Storage: Store leftover dressing in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Enjoy your fun and flavorful salad-making experience!