what can you use besides salad dressing on salads?

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Replies

  • I use 1 table spoon lemon juice, 1 table spoon extra virgin olive oil, half a clove of garlic, and a dash of salt...
  • bikerbiz
    bikerbiz Posts: 179 Member
    Tzatziki (Greek), definitely!!! It's not just for Gyros and Souvlaki (which I miss, being on a diet). Use it on garden salad or Greek salad, or toast some multigrain pitas with a little Greek seasoning and dip in to this sauce. It's great. I found the owner of a local pizza place is from Crete, and he always makes this for me when I bring the kids in for pizza (he knows I'm on a diet).

    Ingredients
    2 (8 ounce) containers plain yogurt 2 cucumbers - peeled, seeded and diced
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1/2 lemon, juiced
    salt and pepper to taste
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
    3 cloves garlic, peeled

    Directions
    (revised--it was missing a step that would solve the runniness problem. Drain the yogurt in a colander for a few hours. This is the way they do it the Greek restaurants. You should also salt and drain the cucumbers for an hour.)

    In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill and garlic. Process until well-combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor.
  • I bought a spray bottle, washed it and poured lime juice in it. I use that to spritz on my salads and then sprinkle with Mrs. Dash's Fiesta Lime. I don't even log it in because it's virtually zero in every category.

    Oh thats a great idea! Thanks!!!
  • I have discovered Italian Rose fresh salsas, one is mango based and the other is tomato based. They can be purchased at Sam's. I make my usual salad with lettuce, tomatoes, and whatever other fresh veggies I have on hand. I add 1/4 cup of dried cranberries, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a sprinkle of Splenda. Then I toss the salad in 1/2 cup of whichever salsa I am in the mood for that day. The tomato salsa (1/2 cup) has 40 calories, 0 fats, and 8 grams of carbs. The mango salsa (1/2 cup) has 140 calories, 0 fats, and 40 grams of carbs. You could use less salsa to cut the calories even more, but this is the amount that I like.
  • pixtotts
    pixtotts Posts: 552 Member
    im not a fan of shop bought salad dressings i find them way too oily for my liking, i opt for just a squeeze of lemon juice or a bit of vinegar instead
    or a yogurt and mint one is rather tasty but i tend to use that more of a dip for carrot and cucumber sticks :D
    x
  • SueGlazier
    SueGlazier Posts: 36 Member
    My 18 year old son decided one day he didnt want mayo or salad cream and rummaged through the different dressings in my fridge. He came across the mint sauce that we would have on roast lamb. That seemed rather strange but was absolutely delicious. Only vinegar and mint so virtually no calories at all.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    I like the yogurt based ideas! Get some extra protein too. I don't know why I didnt think of that! The Taziki idea sounds great. I wonder how many calories this actually saves. If it's not significant I say enjoy the fat.

    http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Caesar-Salad-Dressing-_cook-Yourself-Thin_-Recipezaar

    http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Low-Fat-Creamy-Italian-Salad-Dressing-Food_com-104888

    http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Yogurt-Tomato-Dressing-Recipezaar

    I also do love trying different vinegars rice and red wine are my favorite. I'm also going to try some anchovies, yum! Yes, I said yum.
  • RainHoward
    RainHoward Posts: 1,599 Member
    You can make a vinaigrette out of almost anything. If you like the flavor, can fit it in a bottle and add some vinegar and oil to it, you can make a dressing.
  • BlueEyedTXmom
    BlueEyedTXmom Posts: 179 Member
    I frequently mix 2 TBS ff plain greek yogurt with salsa verde.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    I use 1% cottage cheese and vinegar.
  • nmleisa
    nmleisa Posts: 93 Member
    I've made this Ranch dressing I found on pinterest....

    1 cup Dannon Oikos plain nonfat greek yogurt
    1 packet hidden valley ranch (dressing, not dip)
    1/2 cup 1% milk

    It takes a little getting used to, but I like it, especially to dip carrots and other veggies in it. A 2 tbsp serving is under 30 cal and I believe you can get about 14 servings or so from it. :)
  • Awkward30
    Awkward30 Posts: 1,927 Member
    White wine vinegar! Soy sauce on cabbage salad with chicken or tuna is one of those things I could eat every day.
  • dancingj2
    dancingj2 Posts: 4,572 Member
    Sometimes I use hot sauce. Spicy but no calories!
  • I've gone through several iterations on my journey.
    at first I used regular dressing but I kept it on the side. I would only dip the tines of my fork in the dressing then take a bite of salad.
    I found that I got the salad dressing flavor that I wanted, but used far less dressing.

    Then I did the same with Light dressings.

    In the spirit of continuous improvement I found Walden farms which offers a complete line of products free of Fat, sugars, carbs, gluten, and most improtantly calories. They have some great dressings to choose from http://www.waldenfarms.com/
  • fitnesspal50
    fitnesspal50 Posts: 2 Member
    olive oil, garlic seasoning and lemon or lime juice
  • CarleyLovesPets
    CarleyLovesPets Posts: 410 Member
    I put the vinegar from hot pepper rings on my salad with the hot peppers in the salad too of course.

    or just plan water.
  • herbs & spices or flavored vinegars. i like strawberry balsamic vinegar.
  • drvvork
    drvvork Posts: 1,162
    I use yogurt.
  • Freyja2023
    Freyja2023 Posts: 158 Member
    I use salsa!!! very yummy

    this :)
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,336 Member
    Make bruchetta. Its tasty and you can add croutons for the bread, if you want.
  • Rachel505
    Rachel505 Posts: 30 Member
    I just use guacamole. I normally get the 100 calorie wholly guacamole packets at the store and just use one of those as my dressing. I don't even buy salad dressing anymore.
  • jynxxxed
    jynxxxed Posts: 1,010 Member
    Someone said Tzatziki before I did.. but I second that one! Tzatziki is really flavorful (and fresh tasting!) and low calorie. :)
  • rbn_held
    rbn_held Posts: 691 Member
    I use salsa or a lil vinegar and olive oil
  • I use Kraft Zesty Italian Fat Free Dressing, it has 15 calories for 2 tablespoons!
  • mforan01
    mforan01 Posts: 1 Member
    using salsa as dressing is a great alternative. low cal and full of flavor!
  • this is all very philosophical because the moment you put anything on top of your salad, it becomes salad dressing.
  • janet0513
    janet0513 Posts: 564 Member
    A mix of low fat cottage cheese and hot sauce (sometimes I add taco seasoning)

    Salsa (alone or mixed with low fat sour cream)

    Chili
  • kappyblu
    kappyblu Posts: 654 Member
    Balsamic vinegar! Love love love it!!!!!
  • possibri
    possibri Posts: 158 Member
    homemade pesto or balsalmic vinegar and olive oil mixed together
  • AmandaInGA
    AmandaInGA Posts: 122 Member
    i like to take equal parts of dijon mustard and rice vinegar and mix it up and put it over the salad
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