5 Easy Salad Dressing Recipes

The other day we talked about how most commercial salad dressings are pretty full of unhealthy ingredients. Even some of the best store bought versions still aren’t great nutritionally and are often a bit more expensive. For this reason, I wanted to share some easy recipes that you can make yourself in a pinch. All of these are quick to whip up and although they won’t have the shelf life of commercial ones, the nutritional benefit is certainly worthwhile in my opinion.

1. Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

Combine 3 1/2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar with 10 Tbsp olive oil in a jar. Add a small amount of sea salt and pepper, cover and shake well.

2. Raspberry Vinaigrette

Pour 1 Tbsp plus 2 Tsp raspberry vinegar along with 2 Tsp raspberry jam into a small bowl. Add a sprinkle of sea salt and pepper and whisk to combine. Lastly, drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil and continue whisking until fully mixed.

3. French Dressing

Combine the following ingredients in a jar and shake: 1 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1/2 Tsp sea salt, 1/2 Tsp ground mustard, and 1/2 Tsp paprika. For a sweeter taste, try adding a small pinch of stevia. *This dressing will not be as red as most commercial ones, but remember that you are also avoiding unnecessary food dyes by making it yourself.

4. Honey Dijon Dressing

Add 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp dijon mustard to a small bowl. Whisk in up to 1/3 cup of honey to taste. The full 1/3 cup will make a very sweet dressing so you may want to adjust accordingly. The next time I try this, I may even see if substituting a small amount of stevia would also work.

5. Tangy Herb Yogurt Dressing

In a small bowl, stir together 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/4 fresh finely chopped herbs (I used basil), 2 Tbsp lemon juice (or less to decrease tanginess), and one crushed clove of garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I actually have more recipes to share, but was not able to include all of them today so next weeks Sunday Chef will feature the additional recipes including homemade ranch, blue cheese, lemon cream, and possibly even caesar dressing. :)

*This post is featured in Hearth and Soul Hop Volume 44, Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s REAL FOOD WEDNESDAY, and Real Food Whole Health’s Fresh Bites Friday!

Resources:

1. Cook with Jamie by Jamie Oliver

2. Bride & Groom First and Forever Cookbook by Mary Corpening Barber & Sara Corpening Whiteford

3. Betty Crocker Cookbook New Edition

4. Betty Crocker Cookbook New Edition

5. www.food.com