Salad Dressings To Elevate Your Meal
In my humble opinion, dressings are the spice of life, or in this case, the spice of salads. They have the ability to take your meal from good to great. To this day, I stubbornly refuse to buy most store bought dressings, which usually contain extra sodium and sugar, unhealthy fats, and shelf stabilizers and additives – all things you should try to avoid when possible. Over the years, I have experimented with lots of different dressings and although my rotation is large, these are the three that I personally use the most. I always prep a large batch at the beginning of the week to set myself up for success. Most homemade dressings will last in the refrigerator for 5-7 days in an airtight container or a mason jar – just make sure to mix them well after they’ve been refrigerated. If you need a refresher on “How to Make a Salad You’ll Actually Enjoy,” you can find the post here.
Now, I understand that some of you may not have the time to make a homemade dressing on top of meal prepping. If thats the case, I’d suggest checking out Primal Kitchen. All their products are made from real ingredients and use avocado oil, which is a source of heart-healthy, good fat. They also avoid artificial sweeteners and sugars, and each product is vetted for quality and premium sourcing. It’s the only product I will personally use for sauces, dressings, or dips (I love the green goddess dressing and chipotle mayo). You can also use the code StasiaNikova to get 10% off your order.
Now, on to the main event! Comment below and let me know what your favorite dressing is.
Refreshing Lemon Mustard Dressing
I won’t lie, this is hand down my favorite dressing. It’s light, refreshing, and will leave you feeling fully satisfied with all your life choices. My advice? Do not skip the lemon zest under any circumstances – it makes you feel like you are eating summer with every bite (yes, I know that sounds weird, but don’t knock it till you try it). If you don’t already have a zester, I highly recommend making the purchase – it is probably my most used item in the kitchen outside of the coffee maker. Here is the one I use.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp maple syrup (optional, it just gives it a hint of sweetness to balance the citrus)
Zest of one lemon
Juice of one lemon
2 tbs Dijon mustard (you can swap this for regular mustard, but I suggest using Dijon)
2 garlic cloves, grated
Handful of herbs of choice, chopped. I usually use parsley, dill, or basil
Salt + pepper to taste
Add the mustard, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, maple syrup, and herbs of choice to a bowl or glass jar. Add in the olive oil and stir to create a dressing. Add in salt to taste and adjust with more lemon juice or olive oil as needed.
Creamy Tahini Dressing
I know not everyone is crazy about tahini, but my god do I love it. This dressing is perfect in the fall or winter when you want something creamy and cozy to pair with your favorite fall salad or to drizzle on top of any roasted vegetables. I particularly love using this tahini dressing when I’m adding roasted sweet potatoes, carrots, or brussels sprouts to my salad. It provides another layer of flavor, packs an extra punch of protein, and is full of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Make sure you stir the tahini very well before using – the oil will separate when it’s been stored.
Ingredients
1/2 cup of tahini
1/3 cup of water, plus more as needed to turn it into a smoother lighter paste. Don’t be worried if it seems like too much water at the beginning, the tahini will absorb it after a few minutes
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar (I prefer using apple cider vinegar)
1 tbsp of maple syrup
2 cloves of garlic (if you are not using a blender, make sure to grate your garlic)
Red pepper flakes, to taste (I usually do about 2 tsp)
Salt and pepper, to taste
You can make the dressing by adding everything to a blender or by adding it to a bowl and mixing it together by hand. If you are mixing by hand, try to let the mixture sit for about 20 minutes or so to give the tahini time to absorb the water and reach the consistency you want, which is slightly runny. Add more salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to taste.
Bright Lime Cilantro Dressing
Simplicity at it’s best! This super light, refreshing dressing is great on any salad, Mexican style bowl, tacos, or even avocado toast. Limes contain antioxidants and high levels of vitamin C, which can help reduce inflammation and even help prevent certain chronic illnesses. This dressing should take 5 minutes or less to whip up and will last 4-5 meals, depending on how much you use. You can even add a little garlic if you’d like a little extra punch of flavor.
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 2 limes
Zest of 1 lime
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/2 tsp of honey (optional)
1/2 tsp of red pepper flakes to give it some heat (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Add everything together in a bowl or mason jar and voila!