Vinegar Allergy Italian Salad Dressing
My own creation born out of desperation when I discovered vinegar was causing me to get Migraine headaches. Your Sumac has opened up a lot of doors, recipe-wise for me. I'm hoping by submitting this one I will be able to do the same for someone else. Sumac is not a well known herb [spice?]. Maybe we can change that a little.
Submitted by: Barbara from Medina, Ohio
Yield: 2-3 salads depending on size
Preparation Instructions:
I powder the shallots using a mortar & pestle, then mix the dry ingredients plus the sumac with the water and mix or shake well. Add the oil and mix or shake well again. Best after flavors are allowed to blend for several hours. I do not refrigerate.
thespicehouse.com
More About This Recipe
I usually mix the 9 dry ingredients in a large [6 times] batch and store in one of your large jars. This makes it very easy to whip up a fresh dressing when needed.
My Suggestions: I think you are on the right track, but you can simplify the recipe, substitute some cheaper ingredients and you won’t know the difference. Leave out the dried Parsley…I promise you that you can’t taste it thru the other zesty spices. Leave out the basil, or add some fresh basil leaves to the salad. I’ve been making Italian dressings for years…my first cooking experience…and have come to the conclusion that dried basil is the biggest disappointment in dried, vs fresh, herbs because it is more bitter than anything. 90% of the aromatic quality disappears upon drying (as with Cilantro). Leave it out and the dressing will be better. Marjoram and oregano are very closely related (Oregano is called Wild Marjoram), but I think oregano makes a more flavorful Italian dressing. Come on, now, why would you use an Italian dressing mix in your own Italian Dressing mix recipe? It is likely that you are only tasting some red pepper from it. Finally…double the oil amount! The biggest mistake people make, in homemade dressings, is way, way too much vinegar. It should be 1/4 to 1/3 of the vinegar/oil mix…not one half of it. No wonder why it was giving you headaches!