The 6 favourite salad dressings: from the classics to unusual homemade flavours

A salad can be the simplest side dish at lunch, a complete meal, or the dish we would most like to skip. Very often the difference is made by a good salad dressing. A few spoonfuls of well-chosen ingredients can turn plain lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber or grilled vegetables into a completely new dish.

Dressings, though, are not only for salads. Many go very well with roasted and grilled vegetables, chicken, potatoes, sandwiches and tortillas, and some can be served as a dip.

Some of the best-known dressings are very easy to make at home. So we have picked six popular kinds, from the well-known classics to one unusual homemade product made of… corn silk.

1. Vinaigrette: a simple classic of oil and vinegar

If there is one basic recipe every salad lover should know, it is vinaigrette. Its base is a simple combination of good oil and acid, usually wine or balsamic vinegar, or lemon juice.

For a simple homemade version you need:

• 3 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of wine or apple vinegar
• a little mustard
• salt and pepper
• a little honey, if you like

Whisk everything together, or pour it into a small jar, close it and shake well until you have an even dressing.

Vinaigrette is excellent with green salads, rocket, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes and salads with young cheese. Add herbs, garlic, honey or lemon and you easily have a version of your own.

2. Caesar dressing: the creamy classic

Caesar salad would hardly have become one of the world’s best-known salads without its characteristic creamy dressing.

There are many versions of Caesar dressing, but the flavour is mostly built from a creamy base, lemon, mustard, garlic and parmesan. More traditional recipes also use anchovies or Worcestershire sauce.

A simpler home version can be made from:

• 3 tablespoons of Greek yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• a little lemon juice
• a teaspoon of mustard
• finely chopped garlic
• grated parmesan
• pepper

Stir well, and add a little water if needed to get the thickness you want.

The first association is of course Caesar salad with lettuce, chicken, croutons and parmesan, but the dressing also goes with roasted vegetables and potatoes, or as a spread for sandwiches.

3. Honey and mustard: sweet and spicy at once

A honey and mustard dressing is one of the best examples of how a few simple ingredients can strike an excellent balance of flavours.

For a homemade version, try combining:

• 2 tablespoons of mustard
• 1–2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• a little lemon juice or apple vinegar
• a pinch of salt and pepper

Adjust the ratio of honey and mustard to taste. More honey gives a milder, sweeter dressing; more mustard makes it sharper and spicier.

It goes very well with chicken, green salads, cabbage, carrots, roast potatoes and salads with cheese. It can also serve as a marinade, or as a sauce with grilled meat.

4. Yoghurt dressing with garlic and herbs

For lovers of creamy dressings, a yoghurt base is one of the simplest to make at home.

You need:

• 150 g of Greek or thick yoghurt
• a little lemon juice
• one small clove of garlic
• a teaspoon of olive oil
• salt and pepper
• dill, parsley or chives

Stir everything well and leave for about ten minutes for the flavours to come together.

This dressing is especially good with cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage and carrots, and with roasted or grilled vegetables. It is also excellent as a sauce in tortillas and sandwiches.

With different herbs you can make a different dressing practically every time.

5. Tahini dressing: the different taste of sesame

Tahini, or sesame paste, is an excellent base for a thick, creamy dressing.

The simplest version is made from:

• 2 tablespoons of tahini
• 1–2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• a little olive oil
• finely chopped or crushed garlic
• salt
• a few tablespoons of water

Add the water gradually until you get a texture you like.

Tahini dressing goes especially well with chickpeas, beans, roasted vegetables, carrots, cabbage and grain bowls. You can also pour it over roast potatoes or serve it as a sauce with vegetables.

6. Corn silk and garlic dressing: a homemade dressing you do not meet every day

And now for something completely different.

We mostly know corn silk from its traditional use for making tea. But PG Jarkovački has found it a completely different role in the kitchen and made Svileni dresing, a dressing of corn silk with garlic.

It is a homemade product without preservatives, suitable for fasting and vegan diets. A special recognition of its quality is the gold medal of the Novi Sad Fair for 2026.

Unlike the other dressings on our list, this one you do not have to make at home: someone has already done it for you.

Use Svileni dresing with fresh and main-course salads, vegetables, sandwiches and grilled dishes, but precisely because of its unusual base it is worth experimenting to find your own favourite combination.

Try the corn silk and garlic dressing in the Domaće iz Srbije shop.

Dressing is not only for salad

Although we mostly link them with salads, dressings have a much wider use. Once you find a combination you like, try it with other dishes.

Pour vinaigrette over grilled vegetables, use honey and mustard with chicken, put yoghurt dressing in a tortilla, serve tahini with chickpeas, and use the creamy Caesar in a sandwich.

In this way one small jar, or a few ingredients you already have in the fridge, can completely change a familiar dish.

How to make a good homemade dressing

There is no single rule for every dressing, but there is a simple principle: find the balance between fat, acidity, saltiness and additional aromas.

Olive or another oil gives body, lemon and vinegar freshness and acidity, while mustard, garlic, herbs, honey, yoghurt or sesame decide the character of the dressing.

It is best to start with smaller amounts, taste, and only then add more. A dressing that is too sour can be softened with oil or a little honey, while a bland one is often missing just a little lemon, salt or mustard.

And one more small trick: do not “drown” the salad in dressing straight away. Add it gradually and toss. A good dressing should bring the ingredients together, not hide their taste completely.

Which salad dressing to choose?

For light green salads, vinaigrette is an excellent choice. With chicken try Caesar or honey and mustard, with fresh vegetables a yoghurt dressing, while tahini fits especially well into rich main-course salads.

And if you want to try something quite different from the usual dressings, corn silk and garlic dressing certainly deserves a place on your list.

Because sometimes you do not need to change the whole salad.

It is enough to change what goes over it.

Frequently asked questions about salad dressings

What is the simplest salad dressing?

One of the simplest is a classic vinaigrette of olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add mustard, honey or herbs if you like.

Which dressing goes with chicken?

Caesar dressing and honey with mustard go very well with chicken. For a lighter, fresher combination you can also use a yoghurt-based dressing.

How do I make a creamy dressing at home?

Use Greek yoghurt as the base, then add lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and your favourite herbs.

What else can a dressing be used for?

Dressings can go with grilled and roasted vegetables, meat, potatoes, sandwiches and tortillas, and thicker ones can be used as dips.

What is corn silk dressing?

It is an original homemade product of PG Jarkovački, made from corn silk with garlic. Svileni dresing has no preservatives and is suitable for fasting and vegan diets.