Perk Up Your Greens With These Simple Dressing Recipes
| 3 min read
Take a look at the ingredient list on your store-bought salad dressing. More likely than not, you probably see things you don’t recognize, which are additives, thickeners and other artificial ingredients that you can really do without. Luckily, making your own healthy salad dressing is simple, delicious and usually more economical than buying dressing at the grocery store (you probably have everything you need already!). Here are a few of our favorite healthy, homemade salad dressings you can start making today.
For all of the below recipes, combine ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and keep in an airtight container up to a week.
Honey Mustard
This recipe from Men’s Health only has 50 calories in two tablespoons and goes great with cabbage, broccoli and sugar snap peas.
1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Honey Mustard
This recipe from Men’s Health only has 50 calories in two tablespoons and goes great with cabbage, broccoli and sugar snap peas.
1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Green Goddess
This creamy (and vegan!) dressing from FatFree Vegan Kitchen is a lower-calorie adaptation of the popular Annie’s Green Goddess dressing. To make sure your dressing is combined well, throw all of the below ingredients into a blender for 60 seconds.
6 ounces lite firm silken tofu
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon tahini
2 green onions, white parts removed, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, packed
1 large clove garlic, minced
This creamy (and vegan!) dressing from FatFree Vegan Kitchen is a lower-calorie adaptation of the popular Annie’s Green Goddess dressing. To make sure your dressing is combined well, throw all of the below ingredients into a blender for 60 seconds.
6 ounces lite firm silken tofu
1/4 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon tahini
2 green onions, white parts removed, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, packed
1 large clove garlic, minced
Balsamic-Walnut
Walnut oil is packed with omega-3, fiber and protein. This simple dressing from Whole Foods is a great way to incorporate the healthy benefits of walnuts into your diet while creating a fancy dressing that’s sure to impress your dinner guests.
1 cup roasted walnut oil
1/3 cup fig or blueberry infused balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small shallot, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Walnut oil is packed with omega-3, fiber and protein. This simple dressing from Whole Foods is a great way to incorporate the healthy benefits of walnuts into your diet while creating a fancy dressing that’s sure to impress your dinner guests.
1 cup roasted walnut oil
1/3 cup fig or blueberry infused balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 small shallot, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Garlic Dijon Vinaigrette
This tangy vinaigrette from Yum Sugar can be whipped up in literally two minutes. Feel free to experiment by adding spices and herbs.
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or more to taste)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
This tangy vinaigrette from Yum Sugar can be whipped up in literally two minutes. Feel free to experiment by adding spices and herbs.
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (or more to taste)
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
These are only a few of the many healthy dressings you can whip up in your own kitchen. Here’s a great guide to create the perfect salad dressing with what you have on hand. What’s your go-to homemade dressing?
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Photo credit: WFIU Public Radio
