Why I Always Serve My Grandma’s Simple 4-Ingredient Salad Dressing When Hosting

This basic vinaigrette serves as an ideal versatile salad dressing.

Be it stored in a recipe tin, glued in a cookbook, or cherished in one’s memories, family recipes play an integral role in making cooking such a heartfelt experience. Think of holiday hams at Christmastime or festive cocktails for parties— elegant layer cakes , and traditional cookout dishes populate the pages of Southern family recipe collections, but one of my favorite recipes is a straightforward vinaigrette passed down from my grandmother.

Why I Adore "Grandmamma's Stuffing"

The simplicity of this recipe makes me never feel compelled to try making another homemade salad dressing. It lacks an official name; instead, we’ve always referred to it as "Grandmama Dressing.” The origin remains unclear—it could be something Grandma created herself or perhaps discovered elsewhere—but that’s beside the point. In my view, “Grandmama Dressing” sounds much more appealing than titles like "Simple Vinaigrette" or "Rapid Salad Sauce."

Related: The Perfect Honey Vinaigrette: The Sole Salad Dressing for This Summer

Homemade Salad Dressings Are Extremely Easy

Homemade salad dressing is one of those little touches that can really impress dinner party guests. While serving store-bought dressing wouldn’t raise eyebrows, whipping up something from scratch gives them pause and leaves the impression that you put extra effort into their dining experience. Similar to making custom place cards or selecting your buddy’s favorite craft brew as a gift, this gesture adds a touch of thoughtfulness. It also serves as a great icebreaker at gatherings. Whenever I bring my Grandmama Dressing, people always request the recipe afterward.

It Only Takes 4-Ingredients

Grandmama's homemade vinaigrette requires just four components, all of which I typically keep stocked in my pantry.

• Oil (I typically go with whatever oils I have available; often using canola or vegetable due to their subtle flavors, though a bit of extra virgin olive oil would also be perfectly suitable).
• Tabasco (or your hot sauce of choice )
• Red wine vinegar
• Sugar

That's it.

If I have these four ingredients in my pantry as a young home cook in my twenties, chances are that most other people will likely have them too.

A Flexible Recipe That Complements Various Dishes

Despite having minimal components, this vinaigrette delivers a substantial taste experience. Its sweetness comes from sugar, acidity from vinegar, and heat from hot sauce; complemented by the neutrality of the oil, this do-it-yourself dressing serves as an ideal versatile option for salads.

Our preferred way to enjoy this dish is atop a bed of mixed green salad featuring strawberries, mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, and crumbled feta or goat cheese.

I've presented it attractively main-dish salads This could feature grilled chicken or steak paired with an enhanced bag-of-salad from the supermarket (keep in mind, I mentioned my novice status earlier). No matter which seasonal salad toppings you choose, this dressing will complement them well.

How Does This Dressing Become Simpler?

The measurements. Just keep in mind 1/4, 1/4, twice, twice.

• ¼ cup of oil
• ¼ tsp hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp sugar

It’s hard to overlook, and even individuals such as myself, who often compute gratuities using an iPhone, could easily increase it two-fold or three-fold when splitting with others. The mixture can be combined effortlessly either in a mixing bowl or vigorously shaken within a Tupperware container. Personally, I’ve also utilized a protein shake bottle for transporting it to potlucks; this method works wonderfully for spill-free transport, easy mixing on-the-go, and convenient serving.

While Grandmama's Dressing may lack sophistication, it holds an indispensable place in my collection of recipes.

Read the initial article on Southern Living