Homemade Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 3 TBS Water
- 1/2 Cup Olive or Avocado Oil
- 1 1/2 TBS Mustard
- 1 TBS Honey or Maple Syrup
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 TBS Minced Garlic
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
Directions
- Step 1 Mix vinegar, water, mustard, honey, garlic, and spices in a 12oz mason jar. Close lid securely and shake to mix well.
- Step 2 Add oil to the mixture. Close lid securely and shake to mix well. Store in the refrigerator after use.
- Step 3 Warm in hot water or at room temp before serving if oil becomes solid. Best if used within 7 days.
Homemade Salad Dressing
I have been leaning more towards honey mustard type dressings lately for my salads. I have been having a spinach/cob style salad FOR YEARS. Yes, I fit that dietitian cliche’ – I know -but I also eat my salad every day with some kettle cooked potato chips because – I love BOTH of those foods. Now, this post isn’t about my love affair with potatoes and potato chips – we’ll save that for another day, but I did want to share the easy salad dressing I came up for myself and my clients because I was not satisfied with the other types of salad dressings available in stores nowadays.
Food Sensitivities
I have food sensitivities, and my clients have food sensitivities, and because of this – INGREDIENTS and quality of foods are so essential. What I found in more name brand/regular salad dressings is that they are loaded with additives, unnecessary chemicals, and low-quality oils/fats that don’t benefit our bodies in any way. Wheat, Corn, Soy, MSG, artificial colors, and Milk are common hidden ingredients in salad dressings that many people aren’t aware of.
Food sensitivities can cause an array of symptoms and are dose-dependent – so it does depend on the individual and what they are reactive too, and what they can tolerate. This is why I always encourage my clients to make most dressings from scratch if possible – that way, they are in charge of the ingredients that go into it.
Easy to Tailor Ingredients
Now this recipe (and all of my recipes listed) can be tailored to fit any diet/nutritional need. The most important part of this recipe is the vinegar/oil/water ratio – spices, seasonings, and sweetness can be tailored to the individual.
Increases Bioavailability of Antioxidants
Lutein has been traditionally known to support brain and eye health. Recent animal and small human studies indicate that it may help in reducing psychological stress, plus decrease cortisol levels. Which is extremely important in most people’s lives right now!
We have to get lutein from our diet, and most of us are probably only getting 1/3 of the recommended/beneficial amount of lutein per day. Most of the lutein’s best sources come from leafy greens and plant foods. Since it is a fat-soluble vitamin, we have to have good sources of fat to absorb it appropriately. This makes quality salad dressings a pivotal component to your diet – and also makes salads and sandwiches taste great – a win-win in my book!
