THE PERFECT MATCH

Soon enough, local greenhouses and late spring gardens will be bursting with peppery arugula, sweet butterhead lettuce, crunchy romaine and tender baby spinach—all of them classic salad foundations just waiting for a dressing. But not all greens are created equal. To help, we've mastered the art and science of what EVOOs and balsamics should fly solo or when to mix them together as dressing duos. Let our new how-to-dress-salad-greens tip sheet be your guide. 

ROMAINE LETTUCE PAIRINGS

• Lemon EVOO + Traditional balsamic
• Garlic EVOO + Fig or Black Cherry balsamic
• Basil EVOO + Lemon white balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS: 

• Croutons, shaved Parmesan, grilled chicken
• Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions
• Bacon bits, hard-boiled eggs
• Works well with Caesar-inspired ingredients

ARUGULA PAIRINGS

• Tuscan Herb EVOO + Traditional dark balsamic
• Orange EVOO + Blackberry balsamic
• Gremolata EVOO + Blueberry balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS:

• Shaved parmesan, pine nuts, prosciutto
• Roasted beets, goat cheese, walnuts
• Grilled peaches, blue cheese, candied pecans
• Fresh pears, gorgonzola, toasted almonds

ICEBERG LETTUCE PAIRINGS:

• Mild EVOO + Peach or Apricot balsamic
• Lemon EVOO + Rosé Vinegar
• Basil EVOO + Strawberry balsamic
• Oregano + Lemon white balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS

• Diced tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots
• Bacon, blue cheese, hard-boiled eggs
• Sliced radishes, corn, bell peppers
• Fresh herbs, sunflower seeds

SPINACH PAIRINGS

• Mushroom EVOO + Traditional dark balsamic
• Garlic EVOO + Raspberry white balsamic
• Lemon EVOO + Pomegranate dark balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS

• Strawberries, goat cheese, toasted almonds
• Red onion, bacon, hard-boiled eggs
• Roasted mushrooms, red peppers, Feta
• Avocado, apple slices, walnuts

BUTTER LETTUCE PAIRINGS

• Mild EVOO + Lemon white balsamic
• Lemon EVOO + Rosé balsamic
• Basil EVOO + Peach white balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS

• Avocado, grapefruit segments, pistachios
• Cucumber, radish, fresh herbs
• Soft cheeses (goat, brie), candied nuts
• Poached pears, blue cheese, light seeds

MIXED GREENS PAIRINGS

• Basil EVOO + Traditional balsamic
• Orange EVOO + Cranberry Pear white balsamic
• Rosemary EVOO + Honey Ginger white balsamic

SUGGESTED ADD-ONS

• Dried cranberries, feta, toasted pecans
• Mandarin oranges, almonds, goat cheese
• Apples, walnuts, cheddar
• Fresh berries, crumbled cheese, light seeds
• Roasted vegetables, chickpeas, hemp hearts

INDIVIDUAL USE OF EVOOs & BALSAMICS

There are definitely occasions when you should use your EVOO and balsamic individually on salads rather than as an emulsified dressing. These work really well when using a squeeze bottle for more control.

FOR DELICATE SALADS:

• Tender Greens Method: With delicate greens like butter lettuce or spring mix, drizzle EVOO first, toss gently, then add just a few drops of balsamic and toss again. This prevents the delicate leaves from becoming soggy.
• Layered Flavouring: Add EVOO first to coat the greens, then drizzle balsamic strategically over elements that pair well with it (like over strawberries or tomatoes) rather than the entire salad.
• Tasting Experience: To experience the distinct flavour shifts between bites with EVOO alone vs Balsamic alone. 

FOR VISUAL PRESENTATION: 

• Artistic Plating: Drizzle dark balsamic in a pattern over a dressed salad where the EVOO is already incorporated.
• Colour Contrast: Dark balsamics on light ingredients add visual appeal.

FOR SPECIFIC SALAD RECIPES:

• Italian Panzanella Bread Salad: Toss bread with EVOO separately, then add balsamic to the vegetables separately, then toss together.
• Composed Salads: For salads with arranged components rather than tossed ingredients, drizzle each component with what complements it best.
• Caprese Salad: Drizzle EVOO over all components but reserve balsamic just for the tomatoes.