We all have our quirks. I'm no exception. Today's example: I love Italian dressing, but I don't love creamy Italian dressing. I don't love Balsamic dressing, but I do love creamy balsamic dressing -- especially if it is mayonnaise-based. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike creamy Italian or regular balsamic dressings, I simply have my (quirky) preferences. While I often make my own, like most folks, for convenience sake, store-bought dressings have earned a place in my kitchen. There is always a bottle of Wishbone Light Italian dressing on the door of my refrigerator, and, for a time, I happily kept a jar of Hellmann's Balsamic Mayonnaise there too.
Hellmann's introduced their balsamic mayonnaise in 2013 -- a new product in celebration of their 100th anniversary. A recent internet search revealed it was discontinued -- shocking, because the same search revealed there are a lot of folks, like me, who loved the stuff. I even came across a discussion in an on-line "foodie chat place" where folks were attempting to duplicate the recipe. This was not surprising, as, for those of us who loved it, there was more to it than just a basic stir together of mayo and balsamic vinegar. Once I finished sharing my recipe with those in need, I decided to take a few moments to share it with you all too.
Toss into salads or pasta salads, slather on subs or clubs or:
anything your creamy-balsamic-dressing heart desires.
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried basil (Note: I used dried basil today. That said, depending what I'm serving this on or with, I sometimes substitute dried Mediterranean oregano or Italian seasoning blend.)
1/4-1/2 teaspoon coarsely-ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
In a small bowl, thoroughly stir together all ingredients. Refrigerate one hour prior to serving.
I adore it on my Caprese-Style Ground Chicken Burgers:
Balsamic Mayonnaise: The Other Italian Dressing: Recipe yields 1/2 cup balsamic mayonnaise.
Special Equipment List: 1-cup food-storage container w/tight-fitting lid.
Cook's Note: If you'd like to know the history behind America's two most famous brands of mayonnaise, check out my post ~ Spreads go Bread to Bread: Duke's vs Hellmann's ~.
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipe, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2017)
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