FOOD NEWS
Vanilla Extract Is The Key Ingredient To End Up With The Best Salad Dressing
By Kalea Martin
A basic salad dressing is made of oil and vinegar, but additions like Dijon mustard, herbs, and spices add flavor. Surprisingly, vanilla extract works wonders in salad dressings.
Vanilla, like sugar, balances out the acidity in vinegar and citrus juice, which is why it complements salad dressing. If used sparingly, it won’t impart its own distinct flavor.
You may not taste the vanilla itself, but it enhances the flavors of the other ingredients. It tames bitter and acidic flavors while boosting sweetness without added sugar.
In an apple gorgonzola salad, for example, vanilla would highlight the sweetness of the apples and mellow out the sharpness of the gorgonzola, creating a better flavor balance.
This same flavor-enhancing effect occurs with any sweet or sharp ingredients, such as fruit or raw onion, which means you can use vanilla extract in practically any dressing.
Adding too much vanilla extract can easily overpower the dressing. Start with only ¼ teaspoon at a time and taste it as you go, or use a 1:3 ratio of vanilla to vinegar.