What is the role of dressing in a salad?

Dressing in a salad primarily serves to add flavor and bind the ingredients together. It plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall taste profile of the salad, often creating a harmonious balance between the various components. By coating the ingredients, dressing helps to unify the flavors and allows the individual elements to complement each other more effectively. Additionally, a good dressing can enhance the texture of the salad, making it more enjoyable to eat.

While dressings can sometimes be used as a garnish and may contribute to nutritional value depending on their ingredients, their main purpose lies in flavor enhancement and ingredient cohesion. The option related to providing protein is less relevant, as most salad dressings do not serve as a significant source of protein compared to other components of the salad, such as meats or legumes.