Balsamic Vinaigrette

This vinaigrette is one of my favorite salad dressing! It is so easy to make and so good.

1/2 cup good-quality aged balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
Crushed dried red pepper to taste
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

In a medium bowl or food processor, whisk together balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and red pepper. Add olive oil in a thin stream, whisking until emulsified. Note: By gradually whisking or blending the oil into the vinegar, you create an emulsion (a mixture of two liquids that usually don't combine smoothly).

DO NOT OVERDRESS YOUR SALADS - Too much salad dressing will weight down the salad ingredients and mask their flavors. The dressing's role is to highlight not to overpower the salad ingredients. A general rule is 1/4 cup of dressing for 6 cups of greens. As soon as your salad is mixed, taste a leaf to see if there is sufficient dressing. If not, drizzle some more over the salad, a tablespoon at a time; toss and taste again.