Creamy homemade French Dressing is easy to make, and tastier than store bought. Ready in 10 minutes, this sweet and tangy dressing will elevate your summer salads this year!
Homemade Salad dressings are surprisingly easy to make, and don't have any unpronounceable ingredients. Things like Propylene Glycol Alginate, or Calcium Disodium EDTA, or even High Fructose Corn Syrup. Google it, you'll be surprised what we eat for convenience! When making this easy salad dressing, you'll use everyday ingredients found in your pantry.
What is French Salad Dressing?
There are 2 types of French Dressings and they are very different from each other. Depending where you live in the world determines your preference and availability in supermarkets.
Classic French Dressing
This is a traditional oil and vinegar salad dressing vinaigrette. Prepared in the French style, it's usually made with oil, vinegar and dijon mustard.
Creamy French Dressing
The Americans started adding flavors to the classic vinaigrette, and it eventually turned into a creamy and tangy, orange coloured, French dressing. A bright orange American salad dressing invention, only French in name.
Why is French Salad Dressing Red?
The American version of French Salad Dressing is a ketchup based salad dressing. Of course, this recipe has oil and vinegar with the ketchup, but also spices like paprika which adds to the bright color.
Ingredients in French Dressing
- Mayonaise
- Ketchup
- White Vinegar
- Sugar
- Onion and Garlic
- Salt, Pepper, Paprika
- Vegetable Oil
How to make French Dressing
You'll need a food processor or blender when making French Dressing. This ensures that the ingredients are blended together really well. The onion brings the tang and bite in French salad dressing. The food processor ensures the onion is finely processed and liquified. No one wants to bite into a surprise onion!
- Throw all the ingredients into the food processor, except the vegetable oil
- Process until smooth
- Gradually add the oil in a slow and steady stream, while still processing
- Refrigerate for a few hours before using to allow flavors to meld
Do I Need To Use A Food Processor?
LIFE HACK: You can skip the use a food processor or blender to make French Dressing. Sometimes it's a hassle of cleaning a food processor, as it's really only the onion that needs blending.
Cut the onion into smaller pieces, small enough to fit into a garlic press, and push through. The garlic press allows the onion pieces to be broken up small enough, saving blending time! Just place all the ingredients in a bowl, and vigorously whisk together until combined. Easy Peasy!
What Oil for French Dressing
You always want to use a neutral oil when making most salad dressings. Strong fruity oils like Olive Oil will overpower the recipe. Sunflower Oil is my favorite salad dressing oil, you can use Canola Oil, Vegetable Oil, Corn Oil or Grapeseed Oil.
How Long Does Homemade French Dressing Last?
This recipe should be used up within 7 days, as long as it's kept refrigerated. It's the onions and garlic that shorten the lifespan of home-made dressings. Always do a visual check and smell test. If it looks or smells different from the day you made it, then it's better to discard. If in doubt, throw it out.
French Dressing Serving Tips
As well as drizzling this salad dressing over your favorite garden salad, there are other delicious ways to enjoy French dressing. It's a sauce, a dip and a dressing!
- French Dressing Dip - perfect with sliced vegetables like carrots, celery, broccoli
- Toss it through a Potato Salad - really adds extra zing
- Chicken Wing Dip - served right alongside your Blue Cheese Dip
- Sandwich Condiment - skip the mayo and spread this on your next sandwich
- French Fry Dipping Sauce - amazing with Air Fryer Potato Wedges too!
- Chicken Nuggets - the kids will love dipping into this red sauce
- Dip your Pizza Crusts - actually, dip with every bit of pizza
Salad Dressings You'll Love
- Zesty Italian Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Poppyseed Vinaigrette
- Bacon Ranch Salad Dressing
- Coleslaw Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
If you've never made French Salad Dressing before, try this recipe! Full of flavor, tangy and creamy. This is my favorite creamy salad dressing recipe, made in 2 easy steps. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!
Ingredients
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Heinz ketchup
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup onion chopped
- 1 tsp fresh minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Instructions
- Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, onion, garlic, salt pepper and paprika in a small food processor or blender and process until smooth.
- Gradually add the oil in a slow and steady stream, while still processing. Refrigerate for several hours before using.
Notes
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