Dress to impress: 8 ways to revamp your salad

We all have those moments when olive oil and balsamic vinegar just don’t hit the spot. We’re not knocking the classic, we’re just saying that there are other delightful, easy and fresh ways to spruce up a salad.

Up your salad dressing game with one of these easy recipes, featuring the likes of buttermilk, anchovies, coconut cream, fish sauce, soya sauce, tahini paste, yoghurt, cucumber juice and even leftover papaya seeds!

COOL AND CREAMY: BUTTERMILK CAESAR-STYLE DRESSING

Whisk together buttermilk, finely chopped dill, crushed garlic, a squeeze of lemon juice, mustard, diced anchovies and salt and pepper to taste.

Try the crunchy fried chicken with buttermilk Caesar-style dressing recipe here.

QUICK AND EASY: ASIAN-STYLE DRESSING

Mix coconut cream, fish sauce, soya sauce and grated ginger for a savoury salad dressing that is great on everything.

Try the Asian-style rotisserie chicken salad recipe here.

FRESH AND EARTHY: THE TAHINI DRESSING

For an earthy Middle Eastern flavour, mix tahini, lemon juice, chopped mint and yoghurt.

Try the Waldorf slaw with tahini dressing recipe here.

BRIGHT AND TANGY: THE BEETROOT DRESSING

Beetroot lovers, this is for you. Whisk together beetroot juice, grated ginger, a glug of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste for a sweet, earthy, easy salad dressing.

Try the new Cobb-style salad platter with beetroot dressing recipe here.

SIMPLE AND FRESH: THE CUCUMBER DRESSING

Need a refreshing salad dressing? Blend cucumber, parsley, lemon juice and a pinch of salt.

Try the bocconcini with cucumber juice dressing recipe here.

HOT AND TANGY: THE VIETNAMESE-STYLE DRESSING

Prefer a fresh tang along with your crunchy salad? Mix fresh lime juice, fish sauce, canola oil, a little sugar, rice vinegar, crushed garlic cloves and finely chopped fresh chillies.

Try the Vietnamese-style chicken slaw recipe here.

WASTE NOT, WANT NOT: THE FRUITY SEED DRESSING

Don’t throw out your papaya seeds! Mix them with finely chopped red onion, rice wine vinegar, olive oil, honey, crushed garlic, lemon juice and a pinch of salt and blitz in a blender.

Try the chop-chop salad with papaya seed dressing recipe here.

NUTTY AND ZESTY: THE COCONUT DRESSING

Yet another delightful way to use coconut milk. Simply blend coconut milk, lime juice and zest, coriander leaves and a pinch of salt. Delicious!

Try the coconut-dressed cauli-rice winter salad recipe here.

Discover more satisfyingly fresh salad recipes here.