Italians on Italians
Beyond Toscano

The only way to dress a salad

The only way to dress a salad
Sometimes it seems there's no end to the number of ways you can dress a salad. But while the ingredients that can be used in salad dressings may offer a world of possibility, in Italy there is really only one authentic style of salad dressing that can be considered.
 
Traditionally, Italian salad dressing is simple. Essentially, just a carefully balanced mixture of olive oil, salt, and vinegar – that's all. There can be a few light variations, like the choice whether to use white, red, or balsamic vinegar for example, but unlike many countries such as the UK, US and Germany, adding egg whites, cheese or capsicum to a dressing simply doesn't happen in Italy. As a result, salads are always free to let the ingredients shine, without being overpowered by a fussy, fatty or inappropriately composed dressing.