While salads can be super delicious with fresh greens and a yummy dressing, store-bought salad dressings are often high in calories as they’re packed with sugar and fat.
If you’re looking for healthy salad dressings that you can make at home, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I will cover 6 healthy salad dressings, so next time you’re making one at home you have plenty of inspiration to draw from.
So, let’s get started.
Are Store-Bought Salad Dressings Healthy?
You might think that a salad is one of the healthiest lunch options out there, and it can be. However, you cannot overlook how unhealthy store-bought salad dressings can be if you’re not mindful of what you’re dressing your fresh veggies with.
When it comes to making healthier choices in your diet, salad dressing is one of the worst offenders for hidden calories.
This is where people can make mistakes, as you can think a salad is healthy without even considering how the added calories of creamy dressings packed full of fat can affect the nutritional value.
However, if you ever look at the back of many store-bought salad dressings to read the ingredients list, you’ll find a list as long as your arm a lot of the time.
If there are a variety of ingredients that you don’t recognize and can’t even pronounce, then you’ve got to ask yourself how nutritious this salad dressing really is.
While creamy salad dressings from the store may taste delicious and make a salad more appealing to you, it’s a good idea to say goodbye to these high-fat, calorie-dense dressings to make healthier choices for your lifestyle.
The good news is that there are a variety of different salad dressings out there that you can make from the comfort of your own kitchen that is also much healthier!
Balsamic Vinegar Salad Dressing
It doesn’t get much more delicious than a classic balsamic vinegar salad dressing, and this homemade recipe is super easy to make at home!
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Ingredients
¾ cup of olive oil (or less if you like a sharper dressing)
¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons of maple syrup
1 teaspoon of dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 clove of garlic, minced
Directions
- To make this dressing, combine the olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a jar or container with a good-sealing lid.
- Next, you will need to mince your garlic in the garlic press and add the rest of your ingredients. Season to taste with a pinch of salt and black pepper.
- Once you’ve seasoned the dressing, it’s time to screw on the lid and shake the mixture vigorously until the salad dressing is well combined.
- Once it’s combined, take a piece of lettuce and dip it into the salad dressing and taste it.
- You will need to adjust the salt, pepper, or the ratio of oil to vinegar depending on your preferences.
- Screw the lid back on and store your salad dressing on your countertop. It will keep for several weeks but will need to be refrigerated if you add any fresh ingredients. Make sure that you shake the dressing before each use, as it has a tendency to separate.
Equipment That You Will Need
- A jar or container with a lid
- A garlic press
Top tip – The key to this recipe is to remember that it is 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil. However, if you prefer a sharper salad dressing, you can reduce the amount of oil that you use.
Creamy Avocado Salad Dressing
If you’re not ready to give up your creamy salad dressings just yet, this creamy avocado dressing is a healthy alternative that will make you wonder why you ever bought the store-bought stuff!
Ingredients
2 fresh limes, juiced (4 tablespoons)
1 ripe avocado
1 clove of garlic, minced
½ cup of chopped cilantro (optional)
½ cup of water
4 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- You will first need to cut your avocado in half with a knife and remove the stone. Take a spoon and spoon the avocado into your blender.
- Mince your garlic in the garlic press and add the remaining ingredients to your blender. Blend until the salad dressing is a smooth and creamy consistency. If you prefer a thinner dressing, you can also add more water for a thinner, drizzling consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Taste your salad dressing, and adjust it according to your preference.
- Pour the salad dressing into your mason jar and seal with the lid before placing it in your refrigerator for up to five days. After this point, the avocado will start to brown and your dressing won’t taste as good.
- When it comes to serving your salad dressing, always make sure that you shake the jar to ensure that the mixture is well combined.
Equipment That You Will Need
- A high-speed blender
- A mason jar or container with a lid
- A knife
- A spoon
- A garlic press
Top tip – If you’re using cilantro in this salad dressing recipe, make sure that you only use the leaves as the stems can cause your dressing to have a bitter flavor. You can always try to balance this bitterness with a sweetener if you find it too bitter for your taste.
A Classic Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing
Simple yet effective, this classic apple cider vinegar dressing is a winner every time!
Ingredients
1 cup of olive oil
½ cup of apple cider vinegar
½ tablespoon of dijon mustard
½ tablespoon of honey
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Firstly, you will need to mince your garlic in the garlic press and add all of the other ingredients to your mason jar.
- Once all of the ingredients are in the jar, add the lid and shake it up until the salad dressing is well combined.
- Remove the lid from the jar and taste your salad dressing. If it’s not to your taste, adjust the ingredients and shake again until you’re happy with it.
- Store your salad dressing in the refrigerator for up to two weeks and always re-shake the jar before adding your dressing to your salad.
Equipment That You Will Need
- A mason jar
- A garlic press
Top tip – If your salad dressing becomes solid in the refrigerator after a day or two, you will need to take it out of the refrigerator ahead of time. This will ensure that it is a drizzling consistency when you want to dress your salad.
Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
For a super delicious addition to your salad or a dipping sauce, why not opt for this homemade honey mustard salad dressing?
Ingredients
1 cup of olive oil
½ fresh lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of honey
2 tablespoons of dijon mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- To make this honey mustard salad dressing, begin by juicing your lemon with your citrus juicer and set it aside.
- Next, you will need to add all of your ingredients to your mason jar and seal with the lid tightly.
- Shake the mason jar to combine the salad dressing. Once it is well combined, you will need to taste it and adjust the ingredients depending on how you like your honey mustard dressing.
- Once you’ve altered the recipe to your liking, store your salad dressing in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Equipment That You’ll Need
- A mason jar
- Citrus juicer
Top tip – If you prefer your salad dressing to be on the sweeter side, you can always add more honey when you’re adjusting the ingredients to achieve the perfect level of sweetness.
Blueberry Vinaigrette Dressing
If you’re feeling fruity or enjoy sweet and savory combinations in your salad, this blueberry vinaigrette dressing isn’t one to miss!
Ingredients
1 cup of fresh blueberries
¼ cup of olive oil
½ fresh lemon, juiced
3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey
A pinch of salt to taste
Directions
- To get started, you will first need to thoroughly wash your blueberries to ensure that they are completely clean.
- Next, you will need to add all of your ingredients to the blender. Turn the blender on, and slowly drizzle in the oil until everything is well combined.
- Pour your blueberry salad dressing into a mason jar and drizzle over your salad.
Equipment That You Will Need
- A high-speed blender
- A mason jar
Top tip – This salad dressing doesn’t keep well and is best served fresh, so make sure that you make it in smaller batches and serve it the same day for the best results.
Seed Butter Salad Dressing
Ingredients
½ cup of seed butter or nut butter of your choice (Sunflower seed, almond butter, or peanut butter)
3 tablespoons of tamari sauce or soy sauce
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of water
½ tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
1 clove of garlic, minced
Directions
- To begin, you will need to crush your clove of garlic in the garlic press. Peel your fresh ginger with the back of a spoon before you grate it. Add the garlic and ginger to your mason jar.
- Following this, you will need to add the remaining ingredients to your mason jar. Seal the lid and shake the jar to combine the salad dressing.
- Once combined, you will need to taste the salad dressing and adjust the flavors accordingly. For instance, if it’s not nutty enough, add more nut butter to achieve the perfect flavor to your taste.
- Store the salad dressing in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Always make sure that you reshake the jar before you dress your salad, as the dressing tends to separate when it is stored.
Equipment That You Will Need
- A mason jar
- A grater
- A garlic press
Top tip – You can switch up the nut butter choice to experiment with different salad dressings, and you will end up with a slightly different flavor every time.
Notes When Making Healthy Salad Dressings At Home
Adjust The Ingredients For More Servings
You can easily adjust the ingredients to make more or fewer portions, depending on how many servings you intend to get out of the salad dressing.
If you’re catering to multiple people, you can try doubling or even tripling the recipe should you feel you won’t have enough salad dressing.
Ingredients Affect How Long The Dressing Will Store
The ingredients that you use will affect the lifespan of your salad dressing. For instance, using fresh ingredients such as fresh avocado and fresh blueberries will significantly impact how long your salad dressing will last.
As a result, you will want to make sure that you’re using it up before it goes bad in the refrigerator.
On the other hand, salad dressings that don’t use fresh ingredients will happily last longer in the refrigerator and can be used for several weeks.
If you know that you need a dressing to last a long time to be worth your time, then make sure that you opt for one that you know you can rely on lasting for longer.
Conclusion
So, there you have 6 healthy salad dressings that you can easily make at home!
Hopefully, this article has provided you with some inspiration on how to make your salads more exciting and delicious without the hidden calories and nasties that store-bought salad dressings have.
You should now have the means to experiment with a variety of different flavors and dressings to make the most of your fresh produce. Enjoy!
