2019-08-01 Eat Well

Salad dress ing

Salad dressings have been favoured by humans for thousands of years. Around 2000 years

ago, the Babylonians used oil and vinegar to dress their greens. Ancient Egyptians drew

on their wide trade links to make dressings using oil, vinegar and Asian spices. Over the

centuries, the courts of Europe developed increasingly elaborate salads and always topped

them with a dressing. Henry IV of England’s favourite salad was a mixture of boiled diced

potatoes and sardines with a herb-based dressing. Mary, Queen of Scots enjoyed boiled

celery root, lettuce, truffles, chervil and slices of hard-boiled egg topped with a creamy

mustard dressing. As well as adding flavour, we know that the oils used in dressings

enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A and E from salad vegetables.

Photography: Getty

4 | EatWell

EatWell

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD

Salad dress ing

Salad dressings have been favoured by humans for thousands of years. Around 2000 years

ago, the Babylonians used oil and vinegar to dress their greens. Ancient Egyptians drew

on their wide trade links to make dressings using oil, vinegar and Asian spices. Over the

centuries, the courts of Europe developed increasingly elaborate salads and always topped

them with a dressing. Henry IV of England’s favourite salad was a mixture of boiled diced

potatoes and sardines with a herb-based dressing. Mary, Queen of Scots enjoyed boiled

celery root, lettuce, truffles, chervil and slices of hard-boiled egg topped with a creamy

mustard dressing. As well as adding flavour, we know that the oils used in dressings

enhance the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A and E from salad vegetables.

Photography: Getty

4 | EatWell

EatWell

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD