Healthy food doesn’t mean it has to be tasteless and dry. Unfortunately, most people turn their noses up at healthy food like salads because of misconceptions like these. A salad full of healthy ingredients like leaves, vegetables, fruits, and proteins can be made delicious with the right salad dressing. There are so many types of easy salad dressings you can make at home with products you will find in every urban kitchen.
Related: 10 Different Types Of Salad Dressings That Go Beyond Mayo
Before we give you these healthy salad dressing recipes, here are five kitchen staples which you need to make them. Apart from a few other ingredients which are unique to each recipe, you don’t need much else to make delicious salad dressings at home.
- Honey
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Lemon
- Ginger
Here are a few healthy and easy salad dressings you can make with these kitchen staples.
1. Jamie Oliver’s Honey and Lemon Dressing
Mix six tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and three tablespoons of lemon juice. Add a tablespoon of your favourite honey to this mixture, and combine well. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your preference. Drizzle this dressing over your salad just before eating.
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2. Basic Vinaigrette
Yes, you can make your own vinaigrette. It doesn’t have to come from a store. Mix one cup of olive oil with 1/4th cup of vinegar. Grate a garlic clove and add it to this mixture for some extra zing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Your basic vinaigrette is ready!
3. Lemon Garlic Salad Dressing
This simple salad dressing might look complicated because of the number of ingredients. But it’s one of those super easy salad dressings which will be the star at the table. Crush or grate a small clove of garlic and add one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. To add a tangy twist to it, grate about half a teaspoon of lemon zest and add it to the mixture. Add about 1/4th of a teaspoon of mustard, if available. If you don’t have mustard, you can also put any herbs of your choice. Now, add about three tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Top it up with salt and fresh black pepper, and you’re done!
Related: What Exactly Is Extra Virgin Olive Oil? Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Olive Oil
4. Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing
If you love a creamy texture and strong garlic flavours, this is the salad dressing for you. Whisk a cup of sour cream, 1/3 cup toned milk, 2 teaspoons of sugar, and half a cup of low fat mayonnaise. Chop two green onions finely and add them to the cream mix. Next, mince at least two cloves of garlic, and mix it into the creamy mixture well. Add salt and pepper, according to your preference. Cover it, and leave in the fridge for at least an hour before adding it to your salad.
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5. Greek Salad Dressing
This is a delicious, light salad dressing that will transport you to gorgeous Greece with the first taste. But you need more than just your staples for this recipe. Stock up on red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and oregano for this dressing. Combine 1/3 cup of red wine vinegar, one teaspoon of the mustard, and the juice of one lemon in a bowl. Mix it well. Next, mince two garlic cloves and add it to the mixture. For seasoning, add half a teaspoon of dried oregano and salt and pepper to taste. Once all these ingredients are combined, slowly add half a cup of olive oil and whisk vigorously while pouring.
6. Roasted Garlic Dressing
This dressing replicates the texture of mayonnaise without the health risks. Take about four unpeeled, whole garlic bulbs, and slice off 1/4th of an inch from the top. Put the garlic bulbs, cut side up, on foil and drizzle olive oil on them. Sprinkle sea salt and tightly wrap the garlic bulbs in foil. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake until the garlic is completely soft, which should take about 45 minutes. Let them cool to room temperature and peel the garlic. Mash the cloves with a fork and put it in a food processor. Add about 90 ml of water, 60 ml of olive oil, 60 ml of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of honey, and half a teaspoon of sea salt. Blend this mixture until smooth. You can store this in the fridge for up to a week.
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7. Lemon Parmesan Dressing
If you like a cheesy twist to your salads, you will love this salad dressing. Combine 1/4th cup of lemon juice, one cup of extra virgin olive oil, half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese, two teaspoons of Dijon mustard, two pressed cloves of garlic, and salt and pepper. Whisk till this mixture thickens. Store in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Related: Did You Know That The Parmesan Cheese You Love Is Probably Fake?
8. Honey Mustard Dressing
Mix equal parts of honey, Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, and choice of vegetable oil. Whisk the honey, mustard, and vinegar, along with one teaspoon of kosher salt, in a medium-sized bowl. Add the oil slowly, while whisking, to give the dressing a creamy texture. You can use this easy salad dressing immediately or store it for up to three days in the fridge.
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9. Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing
Add quintessential Japanese flavours to your salad with this dressing. The list of ingredients is long, but the process is easy and quick. You need half a cup of minced onion and peanut oil, 1/3 cup of rice vinegar, two tablespoons of water, minced ginger, minced celery, and ketchup, four teaspoons of soy sauce, two teaspoons of sugar and lemon juice, half a teaspoon of minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend all these ingredients for about a minute. Refrigerate this mixture till you’re ready to serve.
10. Ginger Vinaigrette
In a small bowl, mix 1/4th cup of rice vinegar, one tablespoon of grated ginger, and 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of sugar. Keep mixing till the sugar dissolves. Whisk in 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, and season with salt and pepper.
Try these easy salad dressings and lead a happier, healthier life in 2020. Here are a few more habits which you can develop to help the cause.
