4/3rds for Salad….a Lovely Sesame Dressing.

Any of you out there who write this stuff know how hard it is to come up with a title sometimes….something to catch the eye and convey an intent. Sounds easy doesn’t it?

I love to make my own salad dressings, but am never very good at naming them. One thing is for sure, my dressings are never tame. I’m not talking about heat, I’m talking about flavor. I am a firm believer that your dressing should compliment the salad. I also don’t want to have to use a large amount, because the more dressing, the more calories. If you give it the right flavor, it will make the salad better and a little bit will go a long way.

Well it finally looks like spring is here and so is my desire for fresh salads. Now a good tomato and fresh basil are still a ways away, but there are ways to have those flavors. I use sundried tomatoes in this dressing to give it that summer sweetness. The bright flavor of lemon juice, the nutty flavor of tahini with cumin, coriander and fresh cilantro. Now do see why naming this is hard? I guess I named it for it’s proportions. Most of the measurements are in threes…so 4/3rds it is.

If you are looking for a way to cut back on the amount of dressing you use. Consider this one. Or come up with your own. Just be sure to pack it with flavor. That way a little can go a long way to make your taste buds smile.

You’ll need:

3 medium cloves of garlic, peeled and trimmed

1/3 cup tahini paste

1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes (dry or oil packed)

1/2 Tbs ground cumin

1/2 Tbs ground coriander

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/3 bunch of fresh cilantro (around 1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped)

fresh ground black pepper to taste

2 tsp honey

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup olive oil

water

In a food processor, combine all ingredients except oil and water. With processor on low add first the vegetable oil and then the olive oil in a steady stream. Taste mixture and adjust seasonings to your liking. Mixture will be somewhat thick. Thin dressing to desired consistency by adding water while processor is running. Use on your favorite salad. Refrigerate any remaining dressing for your next salad.

Enjoy!