Recipe Station

We have all been there, scrutinizing the salad dressing aisle, trying to determine which would be the perfect fit. For me, I am asking myself, “Which of these dressings are going to motivate me to eat more salad?” For many, it’s “Do I want sweet? Savory? Creamy?” Each bottle is anywhere from $2-$6, and unless you get multiple bottles, you are stuck with the one you choose. Or, you end up with a fridge full of random dressings, most of which you just tolerate. Even when you do find that perfect dressing, it gets dull after a while. The tastiest dressings often contain so much “bad stuff” that it defeats the purpose of eating a salad to begin with. I can recall a time when I was proud of myself for grubbing on salads daily, only to reach frustration over my lack of weight loss, soon realizing I was consuming vast amounts of calories and fat just to get my greens down.

That was back then. Now I actually enjoy my salads, and even look forward to them with great anticipation. This is because I started making my own salad dressings, giving me full control over the taste and ingredients, and also allowing me to change it up often without spending any more money. I need variety in my life, and when I have a variety of healthy dressing options for my salads, I am a happy camper.

Here is the basic formula:

Base + Vinegar + Produce + Spices

Allow me to elaborate.

Base:

First decide of you want creamy or oily dressing. For an oil base, use an oil such as olive, hemp, or any other oil that strikes your fancy. My favorite is walnut oil. If you like creamy, your base will be Greek yogurt.

Vinegar:

Adding vinegar gives it that “dressing” feel. It really brings the salad together and even enhances the flavors. Red wine, balsamic, and white are all good choices.

Produce:

This is where you really get creative. Use an herb, veggie, or fruit to bring this dressing to life. Lemon is always a great addition, and also great for digestion. Use raspberry or orange for a nice sweet flavor, usually best paired with an oil base. Finally chopped cilantro can make way for a great Latin flavor, while chopped parsley is great for more of an Italian flair. Ginger is also an excellent choice, as well as onions such as chives or shallots. Add avocado for extra creaminess!

If you are craving something of the cheesy variety, this is a great time to add blue cheese or Parmesan. Although not produce, this would be the time to put it in.

Spices:

Now you get to customize the dressing to your own personal pallet. Add cayenne or even taco seasoning for a spicy salad, garlic and oregano for Italian, and dill or thyme for an herbal taste.

Always add a bit of salt and pepper at the end to bring it all together!

Other fun things to add: Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, tahini

Some good combos to try:

• Greek: oil + red wine vinegar + lemon + garlic powder, oregano, basil
• Raspberry Vinaigrette:  oil + balsamic + raspberries (crushed) + Dijon
• Ranch: Yogurt + red wine vinegar + Worcestershire + chives + garlic and onion powder
• Blue Cheese: yogurt + red wine vinegar + Worcestershire + Dijon + blue cheese
• Italian: Olive oil + red wine vinegar + parsley + oregano + basil + garlic powder
• Asian: oil + balsamic + soy sauce + ginger

My two personal favorite combos of all time:

Walnut oil + red wine vinegar + lemon + tahini + garlic powder + fresh dill

Yogurt + avocado + cilantro + taco seasoning

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Now that you have this basic formula, you should be excited to go forth and eat more greens, with your own customized, delicious dressing. You will find yourself more satisfied, and you can be sure you know what you are putting into your body. Best of all, you can customize your lunch to your mood!

What are your favorite combinations? Let us know below in the comments!

Article Submission by: N.S.