Salad dressing
Salad dressing is a liquid or semiliquid mixture added to salads for flavor and texture. It may be oil-based, creamy, or made from other ingredients.
Vinaigrette: A dressing made by combining oil with an acidic liquid, often vinegar or citrus juice. Its oil-and-acid base is the simplest model for understanding dressing ingredients.
Ranch dressing: A creamy American dressing typically made with buttermilk, mayonnaise, herbs, and spices. It is a widely used creamy style served on salads and as a dip.
Mechanical emulsification: The formation of an emulsion by physically breaking one liquid into droplets within another. Whisking or blending breaks oil into droplets, temporarily dispersing it through watery ingredients.
Salad sauce: A sauce intended to accompany or coat a salad, often overlapping in ingredients and use with dressing. The terms overlap, but sauce can describe thicker or cooked preparations beyond typical dressings.
Emulsion: A mixture of droplets of one liquid dispersed throughout another liquid that does not normally mix with it. Many dressings depend on emulsions to distribute oil through water-based ingredients.
Caesar dressing: A savory dressing traditionally made with ingredients such as olive oil, egg, Parmesan, lemon, and anchovy. Its anchovy, cheese, and lemon demonstrate a strongly savory dressing profile.
Emulsifier: A substance that helps stabilize a mixture of liquids that otherwise separate, such as oil and water. Egg yolk and mustard contain substances that slow separation in many dressings.
Dip: A thick sauce or mixture into which food is dipped before eating. Dressing is usually poured or tossed over salad, while dips are served for dipping.
Mustard: A condiment made from ground mustard seeds, often mixed with water, vinegar, or other liquids. Mustard adds pungency and can help stabilize oil-and-water mixtures.
Thousand Island dressing: A creamy dressing commonly made with mayonnaise, ketchup or chili sauce, and chopped ingredients such as relish. Its sweet, tangy, chunky style contrasts with smooth herb dressings.