We’ve teamed up with Ken’s to spotlight the dinnertime workhorse that’s salad dressing. With an impressed line of dressings—from Creamy Caesar to crowd-pleasing Northern Italian—there’s actually one thing for everybody when Ken’s Dressings are concerned.
In terms of summer season cooking, there are two hallmark guidelines I attempt to abide by: It must be straightforward and it must be stuffed with taste. I prefer to spend as little time in my kitchen as doable throughout the hotter months, so I flip to pantry staples so as to add large taste very quickly, whether or not that’s a spice mix, a boxed combine for quickbreads or truffles, or, my favourite, a punchy dressing like those from Ken’s.
From utilizing their Creamy Caesar (with tangy Parmesan cheese and anchovies) as a glaze for meat, vivid and tart Balsamic French dressing used so as to add depth of taste to caramelized onions, or zingy, fragrant Italian Dressing blended into pasta salad, listed here are my high seven methods to make use of Ken’s Dressings this summer season.
Picture by Ty Mecham. Prop Stylist: Megan Hedgpeth. Meals Stylist: Lauren LaPenna.
1. As a marinade
What’s marinade however merely a dressing? They’ve all the identical parts—oil, herbs, spices—so Ken’s Northern Italian is a pure match to marinate rooster thighs, steaks, greens, or absolutely anything else that you just’d wish to have take in some further taste pre-cook.
2. As a ending glaze for savory baked items
There’s nothing higher than heat and recent bread, even in the summertime. Some recipes, like this one for Parker Home Rolls, name for brushing melted butter or oil onto the floor earlier than and after baking. Why not make a fast swap utilizing Ken’s Northern Italian Dressing? The primary brush of dressing ought to hit the rolls after they’re heat to activate these herby aromatics. Or, attempt including a little bit of Creamy Caesar to a cream-washed biscuit so as to add much more taste to the tops of these golden brown biscuits (bonus factors should you add some dressing to the biscuit itself).
3. As dressing for pasta salad or panzanella
Pasta salad is definitely the very best, truest type of salad, for my part. The second highest is panzanella, aka bread salad. (You see the development right here, proper?) Chilly pastas and crunchy croutons are completely primed to soak up liquids, so that you’d higher make every addition depend. Add a contact of Northern Italian to the ramp pesto in this panzanella to amplify the herbs, or stir Chunky Blue Cheese into this Antipasto Orzo Pasta Salad for a taste oomph (to not point out texture).
4. As a pre-grilling taste increase
My greatest follow when grilling is to at all times brush the whole lot with a little bit of oil earlier than it hits the recent grates to stop sticking. In fact, this is a superb alternative so as to add a ultimate aspect to grilled, bready issues, too. I like to recommend sweeping a little bit Balsamic French dressing onto potato buns or smearing Creamy Caesar onto garlic bread earlier than throwing them on the grill.
5. As a burger topping
Lettuce, tomato, charred pink onion, and Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing: all issues that belong in your burgers this summer season. Veggie, rooster, or beef patty—blue cheese imparts a little bit of funk that performs nicely with any burger variation.
6. As a caramelized onion helper
Caramelizing onions is a real labor of affection that requires tons of time and area, so a little bit further assist by no means hurts. By including Balsamic Vinegar to the combo, the sugars within the dressing caramelize alongside the onions, creating one other delightfully sticky layer of caramelized goodness (excellent for that blue cheese-topped burger you simply made).
7. As a fast dip resolution
Dressing, meet bitter cream for what’s probably the final word straightforward dip hack. Your subsequent appetizer is mere seconds away should you add a dollop of bitter cream (or one other creamy aspect, like cream cheese, mayonnaise, ricotta, whipped tofu, and many others.) to your favourite dressing. Creamy Caesar is ideal for chips, Balsamic French dressing is a winner with crunchy crudités, and Northern Italian makes an important companion for crostini.
What are your favourite unconventional methods to cook dinner with salad dressing? Inform us within the feedback under!
Our buddies at Ken’s make dressings that go approach past salad—add ‘em to sandwiches, pastas, marinades, and extra. With greater than 60 flavors to select from, together with Northern Italian, Creamy Caesar, and Chunky Blue Cheese, the recipe prospects are practically infinite. Discover your favourite at a grocery retailer close to you by visiting their web site.
