Spinach Salad Dressing

Toby Jermain's Note:

My ex-wife developed this recipe about 30 years ago, but it has been modified many times over the years due to changing tastes and the availability of ingredients. Decrease olive oil by half, and increase spices and hot sauce to make a great marinade for grilling meat and veggies. Prep time does not include time for designing and building your salad... just for making the dressing.

• Total Time: 10 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 2-3

Yield: 1.0 cup

• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar, for 'bite'
• 1 tablespoon sugar, to taste (originally had 1/4 cup. but that's way to sweet for me now)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sriracha sauce (preferred) or 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce, to taste
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a jar, except olive oil, and shake thoroughly to mix.
2. Allow to set at room temperature for 30 minutes, shaking occasionally, add olive oil, shake again, and refrigerate until needed, but at least 1 hour.
3. Shake and toss with spinach salad (spinach, hard-boiled egg, sliced fresh mushrooms, real crisp bacon bits, croutons, etc.) or other greens.
4. Note: Use the Sriracha hot sauce if you can find it.
5. It adds a lot of flavor, not just heat!

Reviews

[sunflower chef]

This is a well rounded, flavorful recipe. Instead of sugar, I used some of the juice from a can of mandarin oranges that go into my spinach salad. Hopefully reduced the caloric count a bit.

[adopt a greyhound]

Made this and it is very good. I have lots left so will be eating spinach salad for lunch. Served it with Guy Fieri's Cuban Pie Alla Munee.

[Gary Loewenthal]

Excellent - flavorful and easy. I cut back on the salt a little. I used it with a simple salad of spinach, romaine, cherry tomatoes, and fake bacon bits. My wife and I both gave it 5 stars.