Do you need something to pimp your salads? A homemade dressing is the best way to elevate your salads, but it definitely requires a good salad dressing mix. Once you've tried this easy herb dressing mix you'll never want to make a dressing without it anymore.
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5 reasons to make your own seasoning mixes
- They are free from additives, fillers, flavor exhausters and allergens.
- Seasoning mixes are really easy to make once you have a small collection of dried herbs and spices at home.
- They make food taste so much better. Spices can make a world of difference in recipes and transform plain boring food into something really special. I personally couldn't imagine cooking without spices and homemade spice blends anymore.
- It's a lot of fun! I love experiencing how different flavors come together to create something new and even more delicious! It's a great activity to do with kids as well.
- It saves you money. You might think that seasoning packets are cheap. But buying large amounts of dried spices and making your own seasonings is much cheaper in the long-term.
Spices for salad dressing
These 5 different herbs (+ onion and garlic) will make your salads go from boring to delicious!
- Parsley: the base for this seasoning mix and an herb that belongs to every salad dressing.
- Dill makes this dressing mix perfect for salad dressing, but also ranch mixes and yogurt sauces.
- Chives: they have a very mild flavor and taste slightly like onion and garlic. They are a must for this dressing mix.
- Marjoram: is similar but milder than oregano. I feel like this herb is less known but it definitely gives the mix a special touch. Read how to substitute marjoram below, in case you can't find it at your local store.
- Thyme: blends very well with the other herbs and makes this dressing mix complete.
- Onion and garlic: their strong and distinctive flavor adds a lot of flavor to any salad or marinade. However, they are totally optional. Read how to substitute them below.
Money-saving tip
You want to make sure to always buy high-quality spices, which will keep their flavor over time. Nonetheless, it should not get too pricey. My tip is to find a retailer (or even better, a local shop) that sells dried herbs and spices in bulk. Buying them in bulk and in larger amounts will save you money if you make your own spice mixes regularly.
Recommended equipment
These are the 3 most important pieces of equipment that I highly recommend having at home if you want to start making your own seasoning mixes.
- Measuring spoons: are very helpful to make your own seasonings, especially if you prepare smaller quantities.
- Small funnel: it makes transferring the spices into their containers so much easier.
- Seasoning jars: I recommend buying a set of seasoning jars or reusing clean jars from the same brand. Using jars that have the same size, height and shape are easier for storage.
How to use this salad seasoning
- Salad dressing: the most obvious way to use this salad seasoning mix is to add it to your salad dressing. To make my signature salad dressing, I combine some olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, a pinch of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of this salad dressing mix.
- Chicken marinade: this herb blend also makes the most delicious chicken marinade with a little olive oil and lemon juice. Bake the chicken on a sheet pan or in a pan.
- Vegan ranch dip or yogurt sauce: you can totally add this dressing mix to your favorite ranch dip or homemade yogurt sauce. Try this vegan lemon and herb dip.
How to store seasonings
How to store your seasoning mixes: once you have transferred the seasoning mix into its container, keep it in a dry and cool place, out of direct light. Close the container tightly after you used it. My last tip is to store it away from the stove and oven since the heat can alter the flavor and make it turn bland more quickly.
How to store leftover dried herbs: if you make your own seasoning regularly, you probably have several bags of dried herbs. Make sure to close these bags tightly and store them in a dry and cool place, away from light and heat sources. My tip is to store them in an empty show box (or similar) in the back of your pantry, as you most likely don't take them out very often.
Substitutions
- Make it garlic and onion free by simply leaving out both ingredients and replacing them with another teaspoon of thyme.
- Substitute marjoram for another teaspoon of parsley.
More homemade spice blends
- Homemade Mexican spice blend
- Italian seasoning mix (coming soon)
- Minty all-purpose seasoning (coming soon)
The recipe
Best Salad Dressing Mix
Equipment
- Measuring spoons
- Small funnel
- Spice jar
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 tablespoon dill tips
- 2 tablespoon dried chives
- 2 tablespoon dried marjoram
- 2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoon onion flakes or onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Give it a gentle stir.
- Transfer the dressing mix to a clean spice jar using a small funnel. Don't forget to label it before storing it.
Notes
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