Best Spanish Salad Dressing Recipe

There are Spanish recipes for everything and for everyone, with some designed specifically to complement and enhance other dishes, adding depth and richness to every meal.

If you weren’t sure of how to bring your Spanish salad ideas to life, then the Spanish salad dressing brings the perfect solution, adding authentic and vibrant flavors that will elevate your dish to a whole new level.

Read this article and you will learn how to make the best Spanish salad dressing from scratch, bringing the most wonderful Andalusian flavors to your table.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts: 

• Spanish potato salad with olives

• Spanish side salad

• Spanish lentil salad

Background of the Dish

The famous olive oil has been used in Spanish recipes for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 18th century that it met its perfect match with vinegar, creating the classic combination that is present in many traditional Spanish dishes.

The original version of the Spanish salad dressing features these ingredients mixed with minced garlic and lemon juice, but later variations include paprika, cayenne pepper, or other spices for an added kick.

This dressing is commonly used to bring the traditional Spanish salad together, but it also enhances the flavors of various tapas, marinated meats, and other dishes across Spanish cuisine.

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Things You’ll Need for Spanish Salad Dressing

The main ingredients you will need to prepare this Spanish salad dressing are olive oil, vinegar, garlic clove, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup (60ml) olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• Juice of one lemon
• 1 garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
• 1 teaspoon fresh chopped parsley (optional)
• Salt and pepper (to taste)

How to Make Spanish Salad Dressing – Step by Step Guide

1. For the first step in this Spanish salad dressing recipe, peel and mince the garlic clove.

2. After that, grab a clean glass jar and add the olive oil with the red wine vinegar. Give everything a good stir.

3. To continue making the dressing for traditional Spanish salads, add the paprika and fresh chopped parsley (if using), and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Squeeze the juice of one lemon (careful not to drop any seeds in the mix).

4. Now, the parsley and paprika may be optional ingredients for this Spanish-style salad dressing, but they enhance the flavor of any dish, so we highly recommend that you use them.

5. To finish, mix until everything is combined. You can use this dressing with different Spanish salad recipes, from the classic Spanish seafood salad to the fresh Spanish mixed green salad and the delicious ensalada de gambas.

Substitution of Ingredients

The substitutions that you can make to this dressing go hand in hand with the Spanish salad ingredients that you will be using.

For example, if you are preparing some of the salad recipes from Spain like the Spanish tuna salad, the Spanish macaroni salad, or the Spanish rice salad, you may want to go for a creamier version of this dressing.

To get the perfect creamy Spanish salad dressing, follow this exact recipe but add 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise while mixing everything (add more until it reaches the desired consistency).

For fresher Spanish salads, like the Spanish summer salad or the apple manchego salad, we recommend that you stick to the listed ingredients, occasionally adding some spice with chili flakes or cayenne pepper.

Besides that, you can prepare this Spanish salad dressing with Sherry vinegar, white vinegar, or Balsamic dressing instead of red wine vinegar.

Tips on Serving Spanish Salad Dressing

When it comes to Spanish salad dressing recipes, the traditional Andalusian one stands out due to its simplicity and how well it blends with all sorts of salads.

For example, if you have time to prepare a filling salad, like the grilled veggie salad or the Spanish grilled octopus salad, then you can use this Spanish salad dressing and serve them as the main dish.

If you don’t have time to prepare an elaborate meal, then you can use this dressing for easy Spanish salad recipes, like the ensalada de remolacha or the Spanish tomato salad, and you will have a simple and quick meal ready in no time.

Still, the possibilities of the Spanish salad dressing don’t end with salads, as you can also use it to marinate meat or veggies, or as the spread for your sandwich.

How to Store Spanish Salad Dressing

Since this is a homemade Spanish inspired salad dressing, it won’t last as long as the one that you would buy at the store, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t store it.

If you place the traditional Spanish salad dressing in a glass jar, then you can store it in the fridge for about 2 to 3 days (with the lid closed).

To store it for one full week, place the Spanish salad dressing without the garlic in a glass jar, and on the day you use it add the minced garlic. 

We know you don’t usually store vinegar or olive oil in the fridge, but since you mix it with ingredients like garlic and seasonings, you have to.

Recipe Card: Spanish Salad Dressing

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