Homemade French-Style Salad Dressing is mighty tasty and is made with ordinary ingredients. Make it once and you’ll wonder why you ever purchased commercially prepared.
Frequently, my grandparents took us to a little restaurant after church near downtown Geneva, AL. It was a small restaurant that probably qualified for hole-in-wall status. The details of the decor and menu have escaped my memory files. The only bit of memory that remains is a side green salad with French-style Dressing served with saltine crackers. The salad dressing is memorable. Salad was just a delivery vehicle for it. At that young age, green salad wasn’t high on my list of favorite things to eat. I liked them alright, but I would rather eat a cooked vegetable than a green salad. The fact that the only thing I remember from that restaurant is the salad dressing is a clear indicator of how good it tasted. It might have been commercially prepared, for all I know. Or maybe the combination of the salad dressing and saltines crackers was the perfect flavor combination.
Homemade salad dressings are unbelievably easy. For French-style Salad Dressing, you need a bowl, whisk, ingredients and storage containers. The ingredients are common. Chances are high you have all of them at any given time.
Use this dressing as a meat marinade. Brush it on chicken or fish before grilling. Add a small amount to eggs before scrambling. Mix with mayonnaise for a sandwich spread. Add it to your Fruit Loops for adventure eating. Don’t hold back! Push the limits.
In memory of my grandparents who introduced me to French-style Salad Dressing, I’m happy to share my homemade version with you. Drizzle some on a green salad and have some saltine crackers with it. My grandparents will nod in approval.
Y’all come see us!
French-style Salad Dressing
yield: approximately one pint
Make this once and you’ll wonder why you don’t make homemade dressings all the time. It’s made with ordinary ingredients and will keep in your refrigerator for weeks. Shake or stir before serving. For best flavor, let it sit overnight before serving.
1/2 cup oil (I use canola)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Put all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until well incorporated. Taste for seasonings and adjust.
Place in an airtight container and store in refrigerator.
French-style Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- French-style Salad Dressing
- yield: approximately one pint
- Make this once and you'll wonder why you don't make homemade dressings all the time. It's made with ordinary ingredients and will keep in your refrigerator for weeks. Shake or stir before serving. For best flavor let it sit overnight before serving.
- 1/2 cup oil I use canola
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Put all ingredients into a bowl and whisk until well incorporated. Taste for seasonings and adjust.
- Place in an airtight container and store in refrigerator.
Mary says
We love a good french dressing……this sounds perfect! Gotta have saltine crackers with salad! Pinned. Thanks for sharing.
Jackie Garvin says
I hope you enjoy, Mary!
Annemarie @ justalittlebitofbacon says
I agree about homemade salad dressings. It’s always great to make them yourself and this one looks so easy I would definitely make it. Wouldn’t want to disappoint your grandparents. 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks for stopping by, Annemarie. Happy salads to you!
Catherine says
What a fabulous summer dressing…I love homemade dressings! Sounds great. xo, Catherine
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Catherine!
sprinklesandsprouts says
I agree. Homemade dressing change a boring salad into a scrummy meal!
I used to have a house in France and the little restaurant in our village would always serve a green salad as a seperate course before the main.
Just leaves but the dressing was delicious. Can’t wait to try your version 🙂
Jackie Garvin says
Hope you enjoy! Thanks for stopping by, Sprinkles!
The Purple Ladle says
This sounds like a very tasty dressing and I love how you can use it for marinading too – genius!
Jackie Garvin says
It’s a multi-purpose sauce, for sure. Thanks for stopping by, Purple!
Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com says
You cracked me up with your Froot Loop suggestion! Not sure I’m going to go that far, but putting this on salad sounds perfect!
Jackie Garvin says
YOLO! Thanks for stopping by, Elizabeth.
Jack E Keeton says
My high school in Braidwood Illinois served this dressing on their lunch buffet. I absolutely love this recipe, and yes this is the exact same recipe they used. I had this wonderful dressing on my salad for all four years of my high school experience. I worked in the kitchen instead of attending study hall and learned this recipe from one of the head cooks of the kitchen.
Jackie Garvin says
Thanks, Jack!
Tracy says
Love ,love, LOVE this dressing. It’s great on a spinach salad with some bacon and hard boiled eggs!!!!!!
Jackie Garvin says
That sounds divine, Tracy! Thank you!
Amber says
I just love your recipe. I have tried many french dressings and this one the best.
Jackie Garvin says
Thank you, Amber.
Raeann Baker-Williams says
Can you use olive oil or different vinegars and get the same goodness?
Jackie Garvin says
Different flavored oils and vinegars will alter the flavor of the final product. If you’ve got favorites, you should use them, by all means.