How to Make Your Own Healthy Salad Dressing

Why Choose Homemade Healthy Salad Dressings?

Store-bought salad dressings, including those labeled “all natural,” often contain surprising ingredients. These products require additives like unnatural flavors, preservatives, colors, and consistency-enhancers to prolong shelf life. Unfortunately, many are also high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. Non-organic options often use genetically engineered canola or soybean oils, which we advise avoiding due to potential health concerns.

Key Ingredients for Healthier Dressings

1. Choose Your Oils Wisely

Large-batch dressings often use canola oil due to its stable consistency in the refrigerator. For homemade dressings or organic store-bought options, opt for non-GMO canola oil. When preparing smaller batches for immediate consumption, consider olive oil. Olive oil boasts a healthy fat profile, supporting heart health and digestion.

2. Embrace Fresh Herbs

Enhance your dressings with fresh herbs, rich in phytonutrients that promote overall well-being.

By selecting ingredients mindfully and favoring homemade options, you can elevate the nutritional value of your salads. At Keto Primal Health, we believe in the power of wholesome foods to enhance your health and wellness.

Essential Kitchen Tools and Gadgets for Easier Cooking

In any kitchen, a cutting board, a few sharp knives, and a quality set of pots and pans are indispensable. While these basics are crucial, investing in a few additional gadgets can significantly enhance your cooking experience, making it easier and more enjoyable.

Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets:

• Mesh Strainer: Perfect for effortlessly separating liquids from solids.
• Whisk: Always outperforms a fork for mixing and beating.
• Blender: Ideal for mixing small amounts of ingredients and achieving a smoother texture for sauces, dressings, and marinades, better than what you can typically get from a food processor.
• Food Processor: A time-saver for chopping and mixing ingredients with ease.
• Kitchen Shears: Use them instead of a knife to chop fresh herbs quickly and efficiently.

Investing in these gadgets will make your time in the kitchen more efficient and enjoyable, allowing you to focus on creating delicious meals with ease.

Basic Vinaigrette

Let’s begin with the essentials. This vinaigrette is your go-to dressing for any salad, any time, anywhere. Bursting with flavor and perfectly balanced with the right ratio of oil, vinegar, and seasoning, it elevates any dish. Here’s a pro tip: combine the shallot, salt, and pepper with the vinegar ahead of time. This allows the seasonings to dissolve and mellows the sharpness of the shallot, creating a smoother, more harmonious dressing.

By following this simple yet effective trick, you’ll have a versatile and delicious vinaigrette ready to enhance any salad you prepare. Enjoy the perfect blend of flavors in every bite!

Makes 1 cup (250 ml), serves 8 Time in the kitchen: 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 small shallot, finely chopped

1⁄4 teaspoon (1 ml) salt

1⁄4 teaspoon (1 ml) black pepper

3 tablespoons (45 ml) red wine or sherry vinegar

1⁄2 teaspoon (2 ml) Dijon mustard (page 172)

3⁄4 cup (175 ml) extra virgin olive oil

Combine shallot, salt, and pepper with the vinegar in a small bowl. Let sit ten minutes.

Whisk mustard and olive oil into dressing.

Ranch Dressing

What sets this dressing apart is its simplicity. It harmonizes creamy textures with tangy and herbaceous flavors using minimal ingredients. Begin with this base and tailor your dressing by exploring additions such as fresh dill or garlic, a touch of vinegar, or a dollop of homemade mayonnaise.

This approach ensures your dressing not only meets but exceeds expectations, offering endless possibilities for personalization and culinary creativity.

Makes 1 cup (250 ml), serves 8 Time in the kitchen: 10 minutes

3⁄4 cup (175 ml) sour cream

1⁄4 cup (60 ml) plus 1 tablespoon (15 ml) buttermilk

3⁄4 teaspoon (4 ml) dried dill

1 teaspoon (5 ml) finely chopped fresh chives

1⁄2 teaspoon (2 ml) tamari

1⁄4 teaspoon (1 ml) granulated onion powder

1⁄8 teaspoon (0.5 m

In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients by hand until smooth.

Add more salt to taste if needed.

Dairy-Free Green Goddess Dressing

Green Goddess dressing is a beloved classic known for its creamy texture and herbaceous flavor. Traditionally made with sour cream and mayo, this dairy-free version maintains its essence with a generous dose of fresh herbs. When making this recipe, don’t stress about precise measurements—more herbs mean more flavor. Simply grab a handful and snip them into the food processor using kitchen shears for a vibrant, herb-packed dressing.

Enjoy the freshness and vibrant flavors of this dairy-free twist on a timeless favorite, perfect for drizzling over salads or using as a dip.

Makes 1 cup (250 ml), serves 8 Time in the kitchen: 10 minutes

Lemon-Ginger Dressing

Bright and lively with spicy kick from the ginger. Try with steak or fish over dark greens, shredded cabbage, or seaweed.

Makes 1⁄2 cup (125 ml), serves 4 Time in the kitchen: 10 minute

1 teaspoon (5 ml) grated ginger root

2 tablespoons (30 ml) lemon juice 1 tablespoon (15 ml) tamari

1 tablespoon (15 ml) toasted sesame oil

1⁄2 cup (125 ml) extra virgin olive oil

To grate the ginger, cut the peel off the root and use the small holes on a cheese grater. To grate lemon zest, run a lemon back and forth against the small holes on a cheese grater, or use a microplane grater. Whisk together lemon zest, ginger and the remaining ingredients in a small bowl.