Salad dressing can make or break an otherwise healthy salad. While it may be quick and easy to pick up a bottle of prepared salad dressing, store bought salad dressings have long ingredients lists that are full of excessive sugars and chemicals. Luckily, it is also quick and easy to make your own dressing, so there is no need to ever buy dressing again.
All of our favourite dressings are olive-oil based, meaning they are rich in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids that will keep you feeling full. We then add an acidic liquid to the oil, usually a citrus juice or a vinegar. This forms the base of the salad dressing. From there, all the dressing needs are some spices and herbs to flavour things up, which can range from simple salt and pepper to fiery cayenne.
Simple Lemon Dressing
- ⅔ cup lemon juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp basil
- 1 clove garlic, chopped fine and crushed
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp brown sugar
Spicy Lime Salad Dressing
- ⅔ cup lime juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ½ tsp cayenne
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
To make your salad dressing, mix all ingredients together in a jar with a tight sealing lid. Shake well before use, as oil separates quickly in homemade mixtures! We usually use about a tablespoon for one salad, so these jars will last you a while kept in the fridge.
Simple Lemon Dressing is our most flavour neutral dressing. It goes great with fresh greens, as well as chickpea and white kidney bean salads. However, our favourite use for this dressing is a tabbouleh salad, or any other salad that is heavy on herbs.
Classic Balsamic Dressing works wonderfully on a garden salad, spinach salad, or any salad with feta or mozzarella.
Spicy Lime Dressing is a favourite for bean salads. We love drizzling it over a salad with black beans, corn, cilantro, and tomato.
Basil Food Friends 