Healthy Salad Dressings?

jessiwebb
jessiwebb Posts: 31 Member
in Recipes
I'm ready to kick light ranch dressing out the door... but I have no (good) recipes for salad dressing. Anyone have a good to-die-for salad dressing recipe? :)
«1

Replies

  • abbyrae1
    abbyrae1 Posts: 265 Member
    I know a lot of people use plain greek yogurt, milk, and ranch seasoning to make a healthier ranch dressing.
    Do you have access to a store that sells flavored olive oils or vinegars? Where I live we have a place called the olive cellar that has all that kind of stuff, the people that work there have a ton of combinations you can put together for quick, easy, healthy dressings

    otherwise....You can make a balsamic vinaigrette pretty easy with EVOO, balsamic vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, 2 pinches brown sugar, 1/2 t Dijon mustard.....that one is my favorite
  • mreardon614
    mreardon614 Posts: 25
    I use the bolt house yogurt dressings. They are around 45 calories a serving and they come in lots of flavors. Sorry no recipes though.
  • ebren056
    ebren056 Posts: 3
    If you pick up the latest issue of Food Network magazine, there is an insert with 50 homemade salad recipes. Not all of them are completely healthy, but it will give you some great ideas!

    My favorite homemade dressing is simple - olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard (dijon or spicy brown) and a little garlic. Super easy and flavorful!
  • jessiwebb
    jessiwebb Posts: 31 Member
    Thanks, all! These definitely give me a place to start. :D
  • alychil820
    alychil820 Posts: 219 Member
    My favorite is lemon juice and olive oil. I used to be a ranch addict, and this is completely different, but it's really really good, and it brings out the flavors of your salad.
  • sally_jeffswife
    sally_jeffswife Posts: 766 Member
    I really like the Kraft Fat Free Catalina
  • kellijauch
    kellijauch Posts: 379 Member
    No recipes, but Annie's dressings are the bomb!!! They are Vegan (so you will find them in the "natural" section of your food store). They are totally healthy and delicious. I love the Green Goddess dressing. Just great on everything, even as a condiment on sandwiches.
  • ashleymcn01
    ashleymcn01 Posts: 108 Member
    I made this for the first time last night, and OMG, it was GREAT!!!

    2 Tbsp Olive Oil
    2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
    2 tsp Dijon Mustard
    Dash of parsley, oregeno and pepper

    It was enough for both my husband and myself, and sooooo good!!
  • AmazingRed
    AmazingRed Posts: 22 Member
    I stick with homemade dressing. Olive Oil, an acid, dijon mustard and onion or garlic. Whisk well with a little Salt and pepper. For my acid I use whatever compliments the salad or meal, vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice... simple and delish
  • pushyourself14
    pushyourself14 Posts: 275 Member
    I don't have any recipe suggestions, but I use Bolthouse Farms yogurt-based dressings. Their Caesar Parmigiano is 25 calories per tablespoon, and around 60mg sodium.
  • jessiwebb
    jessiwebb Posts: 31 Member
    No recipes, but Annie's dressings are the bomb!!! They are Vegan (so you will find them in the "natural" section of your food store). They are totally healthy and delicious. I love the Green Goddess dressing. Just great on everything, even as a condiment on sandwiches.

    I just wrote down the recipe for the Greek Goddess dressing this morning - so geeked to try it!!


    Thanks, everyone! All of these are exactly what I needed to kick ranch to the curb. :happy:
  • calimoma
    calimoma Posts: 64
    These recipes sound great! but i have to say im a huge fan of trader joes lite parmesan ranch and light champagne vinagrette!!! both are hella delish and low on fat and cals!!
  • MissRae123
    MissRae123 Posts: 39 Member
    I like to make creamy avocado dressing.

    1 Avocado
    1/4 cup chopped onion
    1/2cup milk
    3cloves garlic
    Fresh cilantro
    1 juice from lemon
    Salt
    Pepper

    Sometimes I add a little greek yogurt

    Blend in blender. Depending on how thick you like it add more milk.
    Best dressing ever!
  • IowaJen1979
    IowaJen1979 Posts: 406 Member
    There are some good recipes on skinnytaste.com. I especially like the blue cheese dressing. It's yogurt based.
  • calmanza2
    calmanza2 Posts: 12
    I love my ranch, too - so it was totally difficult to kick that! :noway:
    Now I really enjoy a good fat-free raspberry vinaigrette - it has so much flavor, and so few calories! The "Ken's" brand has some really good "light" and fat-free dressings (including the raspberry). :tongue:
  • Italiano7
    Italiano7 Posts: 382 Member
    BUMP
  • JoanB5
    JoanB5 Posts: 610 Member
    I know a lot of people use plain greek yogurt, milk, and ranch seasoning to make a healthier ranch dressing.
    Do you have access to a store that sells flavored olive oils or vinegars? Where I live we have a place called the olive cellar that has all that kind of stuff, the people that work there have a ton of combinations you can put together for quick, easy, healthy dressings

    otherwise....You can make a balsamic vinaigrette pretty easy with EVOO, balsamic vinegar, garlic, Italian seasoning, 2 pinches brown sugar, 1/2 t Dijon mustard.....that one is my favorite
    ^^ MMMMMmmm. I need a "save" button on here for great recipes. That sounds great!
  • ademiter
    ademiter Posts: 176 Member
    I made this for the first time last night, and OMG, it was GREAT!!!

    2 Tbsp Olive Oil
    2 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
    2 tsp Dijon Mustard
    Dash of parsley, oregeno and pepper

    It was enough for both my husband and myself, and sooooo good!!
    ^^^THIS! I actually used horseradish mustard for more tang and it was AWESOME!
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Salsa
  • Chrisgriff32
    Chrisgriff32 Posts: 30 Member
    I also suggest Bolthouse Dressings! They are full flavor dressings made with yogurt that are all low in calories! Sooo good!
  • ademiter
    ademiter Posts: 176 Member
    I like to make creamy avocado dressing.

    1 Avocado
    1/4cup milk
    3cloves garlic
    Fresh cilantro
    1 juice from lemon
    Salt
    Pepper

    Blend in blender. Depending on how thick you like it add more milk.
    Best dressing ever!
    ^^^^^^^^^^ YUM! I love cilantro!
  • climbamnt
    climbamnt Posts: 190 Member
    I don't know that it is the best for you, but google hot bacon vinegrette - nom nom nom!

    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutesIngredients:
    •4 tablespoons bacon drippings
    •1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
    •2 cups water
    •1/2 cup honey
    •1/2 cup red wine vinegar
    •1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
    •1 teaspoon Tabasco, or to taste, optional
    •2 tablespoons dijon mustard

    Preparation:
    Place the bacon grease in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and saute until the onions start to brown. While the onions are carmelizing, put water in a mixing bowl with honey, red wine vinegar, and Tabasco. Using a wire whisk, mix the ingredients well.
    Add the cornstarch and whisk well. After the onions have carmelized, add the Dijon mustard to the onions and stir together with a rubber spatula. Add the water, vinegar, pepper sauce honey and cornstarch to the mustard and onions and mix. Continue stirring until mix thickens and just begins to boil. Remove from heat and store in refigerator until needed. Reheat in a double boiler or over very low heat setting or microwave.
  • carrieliz81
    carrieliz81 Posts: 489 Member
    I hate "lite" or reduced fat salad dressings... they have a yuck chemical taste. I stick to a variety of vinaigrettes, and I change it up frequently so I don't get too bored. Raspberry balsamic, regular balsamic, italian, sweet pepper, etc, etc.... I also like the yogurt dressings... they taste good but are creamy and low-cal!
  • jennyrebekka
    jennyrebekka Posts: 626 Member
    thanks for the question.....i have been trying to kick Ranch to the curb, too......
    I like the Trader Joe's cilantro dressing.....if you have a TJ near you.
  • mrsfoster102613
    mrsfoster102613 Posts: 126 Member
    If you want to be extra healthy but provide your body with something easy to digest, try making some raw dressings. For example, raw ranch dressing:

    http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-ranch-dressing-recipe

    Though I am a BIG fan of Greek yogurt, our bodies don't digest dairy as easily as it does raw ingredients. Maybe try alternating between a raw dressing like the one above and a dairy-based one.

    Also, I LOVE Natalia Rose's Liquid Gold Elixir dressing (also raw and nut-free). I don't have the recipe memorized, but it's so yummy and goes with so many things. I Googled, and this came up:

    Liquid Gold Elixir (SALAD DRESSING)

    2 cups fresh lemon juice
    3 whole cloves garlic
    3 tablespoons minced ginger
    3 tablespoons Nama Shoyu soy sauce
    3 heaping tablespoons raw honey (or more if desired)
    1 ½ cups cold-pressed olive oil

    1. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in blender.
    2. Begin blending at normal speed.
    3. As the mixture is blending, slowly add the olive oil until it’s completely blended.

    *This recipe should last over a week in the fridge

    Pretty sure that's about right, but I admit I typically half or quarter it when I make it. I sometimes eat my salads dry, so I don't often need a whole batch every week. Still very tasty, and I enjoy it down to the last spoonful.
  • meadow_sage
    meadow_sage Posts: 308 Member
    I love my ranch, too - so it was totally difficult to kick that! :noway:
    Now I really enjoy a good fat-free raspberry vinaigrette - it has so much flavor, and so few calories! The "Ken's" brand has some really good "light" and fat-free dressings (including the raspberry). :tongue:
    I love Ken's Light Honey Mustard.
  • karendee4
    karendee4 Posts: 558 Member
    Dressings are so easy to make and much less junk and chemicals. Just remember you need an acid (like vinegar or citrus) and some oil. Then flavor. You can use mustart too and give it a kick.


    I make a citrus one


    One lemon Squeezed
    1 teaspoon olive oil
    Half tablespoon honey
    Some seasonongs (I like basil, salt, pepper and maybe garlic)

    Shake in a small container. You can use more oil but the calorie count will jump up. You can use limes, oranges etc....


    I also made one with low sugar marmalade today beause I was out of lemons and honey.

    1 tablespoon Smuckers low sugar marmalade (or any jelly or jam , there are many made wiht no sugar now. some with stevia too)
    1 tablespoon white vinegar
    1 teaspoon olive oil
    spices (i used ginger, salt and pepper and some paprika)
    shake.

    Each recipe makes 1-2 servings depending on how you like your salads. I like to use most of it.
  • karendee4
    karendee4 Posts: 558 Member
    If you want to be extra healthy but provide your body with something easy to digest, try making some raw dressings. For example, raw ranch dressing:

    http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-ranch-dressing-recipe

    Though I am a BIG fan of Greek yogurt, our bodies don't digest dairy as easily as it does raw ingredients. Maybe try alternating between a raw dressing like the one above and a dairy-based one.

    Also, I LOVE Natalia Rose's Liquid Gold Elixir dressing (also raw and nut-free). I don't have the recipe memorized, but it's so yummy and goes with so many things. I Googled, and this came up:

    Liquid Gold Elixir (SALAD DRESSING)

    2 cups fresh lemon juice
    3 whole cloves garlic
    3 tablespoons minced ginger
    3 tablespoons Nama Shoyu soy sauce
    3 heaping tablespoons raw honey (or more if desired)
    1 ½ cups cold-pressed olive oil

    1. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in blender.
    2. Begin blending at normal speed.
    3. As the mixture is blending, slowly add the olive oil until it’s completely blended.

    *This recipe should last over a week in the fridge

    Pretty sure that's about right, but I admit I typically half or quarter it when I make it. I sometimes eat my salads dry, so I don't often need a whole batch every week. Still very tasty, and I enjoy it down to the last spoonful.

    I will try the Liquid Gold Elixir one! NICE!
  • LisaMfit4life
    LisaMfit4life Posts: 567 Member
    Hi! Go to allrecipes.com and you will be able to find some good recipes on there for healthy salad dressings. Hope this helps.
    Lisa
  • mrsfoster102613
    mrsfoster102613 Posts: 126 Member
    If you want to be extra healthy but provide your body with something easy to digest, try making some raw dressings. For example, raw ranch dressing:

    http://www.therawtarian.com/raw-ranch-dressing-recipe

    Though I am a BIG fan of Greek yogurt, our bodies don't digest dairy as easily as it does raw ingredients. Maybe try alternating between a raw dressing like the one above and a dairy-based one.

    Also, I LOVE Natalia Rose's Liquid Gold Elixir dressing (also raw and nut-free). I don't have the recipe memorized, but it's so yummy and goes with so many things. I Googled, and this came up:

    Liquid Gold Elixir (SALAD DRESSING)

    2 cups fresh lemon juice
    3 whole cloves garlic
    3 tablespoons minced ginger
    3 tablespoons Nama Shoyu soy sauce
    3 heaping tablespoons raw honey (or more if desired)
    1 ½ cups cold-pressed olive oil

    1. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in blender.
    2. Begin blending at normal speed.
    3. As the mixture is blending, slowly add the olive oil until it’s completely blended.

    *This recipe should last over a week in the fridge

    Pretty sure that's about right, but I admit I typically half or quarter it when I make it. I sometimes eat my salads dry, so I don't often need a whole batch every week. Still very tasty, and I enjoy it down to the last spoonful.

    I will try the Liquid Gold Elixir one! NICE!

    I hope you like it! I love with it everything. Salads, avocados, drizzled over all kinds of veggies...endless possibilities. =)

Categories