June 20, 2007

• Dress It Yourself, Part Two

  I’ve been making salad dressings to have ready in the fridge when the dinner rush arrives.  Last week’s dressings are being consumed with gustatory enthusiasm.

  This Ginger Sesame Dressing  from my friend Christi is a little more complicated and has some unusual ingredients.  But  this dressing is the most light, delicate, exquisite addition to a green salad.  The hotter the temperature outside, the more refreshing you will find this dressing.  Oh, my friend, you must try this one at least once!

  

  Ginger Sesame Dressing
  2 inches fresh ginger root (2 T minced)
  2 T fresh-squeezed orange juice        
  3 T fresh-squeezed lemon juice          
  2 T dark sesame oil                           
  1 T soy sauce                                    
  1 T rice vinegar                                 
  1 T honey                                        
  3 T sesame seeds, toasted                
  1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions      
        

  

  Do you see in the first photo how the ginger has “fingers”?
  I just broke one off and peeled it.
  What do you do with the rest of the ginger, you ask.
  Store it in the freezer (otherwise it gets moldy) and add it to your chai.

  

  Mince ginger.
  Combine all ingredients except sesame seed and green onion in blender.
  Process until mixture is well blended and ginger is nearly pureéd.
  The dressing will be very thin, very fluid.

  If you are making it ahead, stop here.
  Otherwise, toast the sesame seeds.

  

  Just before serving salad add the sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
  I doubled this recipe, using one orange and two lemons.

  Two more quick recipes:

  Deyette’s Basil Dressing

  2 large cloves garlic
  2 tsp sugar
  1/2 cup olive oil
  1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  1/4 cup basil

  I added 1/4 oregano because I had it

  Sharon’s Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

  1/2 cup sugar
  2 tsp finely chopped onion
  1/2 tsp salt
  1/3 cup lemon juice
  1 tsp Dijon mustard
  2/3 cup vegetable oil
  1 T poppy seed

  Place all ingredients except oil and poppy seed in blender.
  With blender running, slowly add oil in a steady stream until thick and smooth.
  Then add poppy seeds and process a few more seconds.

  
  

  

  From the left: Glorious Green Dressing, Healthy Vinaigrette,
  Basil Dressing, Ginger Sesame, and Lemon Poppy Seed.

  I’d like to find a nice peanut dressing
  similar to the house dressing of a local restaurant.
  If you have any dressings that you’d like to share, please do!

  • 12:14 pm
  • 4 Comments