Salad dressing is so easy to make from scratch that I rarely buy it, but I have a couple that I like to keep on hand so a quick and healthy meal is only a minute away.
But when it runs out, I don’t throw the bottle away; instead I use the tiny bit that’s left to build a new dressing. Think about it — that bottle of vinaigrette already has a flavor profile started — all it takes to start new is a little oil and vinegar, but don’t stop there.
It doesn’t matter what kind of dressing you have, this trick works with just about anything, and you don’t have to stop at oil and vinegar.
My favorite bottled dressing is a Caesar, and when it runs out, I add a little lemon, some salt and pepper (Ava Jane’s Kitchen Citrus Salt & Pepper is perfect for this!) and shake up. For balsamic vinaigrette, add a bit of balsamic vinegar, honey, and maybe some orange juice or honey (Ava Jane’s Kitchen Yucatan Honey for the win!) Shake, and you’ve got enough dressing for at least one more salad.
When your grocery bill keeps going up, a little goes a long way, and being able to get every last drop makes me feel less wasteful.
Why not just make your own dressing? Tastes much better, costs less than the bottled stuff, has no preservatives or mystery ingredients. You can reuse your empty store bought bottles to store it or just make it right on the salad! Save room in the fridge.
I generally do make my own dressing, but sometimes even that is a lot of trouble. So occasionally I’ll buy a bottle to have on hand when I just don’t want to take the time.