Is there such a thing as a tasty, homemade, good-for-you, low-fat salad dressing?

[Jane Elliot]

I'm trying to do Eat to Live. My salads are so boring.

[battlemaiden]

I'm trying to do Eat to Live. My salads are so boring.

 

I just made honey dijon dressing for lunch today. I threw it all in so I don't know the amounts. Sorry.

 

I used a couple Tablespoons of honey and dijon, some lemon juice, a little mayo (you could probably omit), and a teaspoon of skim milk. I whisked it with a fork and voila!

 

Jo

[*Inna*]

If you like mustard, try this one. Sorry, no measurements.

 

A bit of Dijon mustard, probably 1/2 tsp.

Salt, freshly ground pepper, a good squeeze of lemon juice.

Mix it together with a whisk or fork. Add a bit of olive oil while whisking.

 

That's it! :)

You can add a bit of red wine vinegar too if you like.

[Peri]

My favorite salad dressing is plain old lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

 

It is good with

-tomato, cucumber, and celery salad

-Apple and fennel salad

-taboleh

-I even use it in place of mayonaise in tuna salad

 

Although, if you don't like sour things I am at a loss to help you there.

[Stacey in MA]

I'm not following it to the "T", but it inspired me to eat better.

 

Right now I most often use Paul Newman's Asian Sesame salad spray. It's one of the best low-cal ones I can find.

 

I have made one once (but can't remember the exact ingredients! came from a library book....) that was good. Did it in the Vitamix with lemon juice, chopped sundried tomatoes, garlic, water, and something else - can't remember! Maybe it was some fresh tomato? or capers? Hmm...Yes that might have been it!

 

Salad always needs something a little acidic (lemon or balsamic, etc.). I have blended several things in the Vitamix recently and thought "hmm, this would make a decent dressing!" - any blended veggie might make a nice sauce!

[Aubrey]

Squeeze a lime on the salad.

[stripe]

Add herbs with that lemon squeeze!

 

Also you can make a pretty good mock ranch with yogurt, lemon juice, salt, a bit of garlic, and some herbs (like parsley -- and celery leaves add something yummy).

[kalanamak]

I was just going to ask this. I love raspberry vinegar (and loved it before it came a national craze...the old JOC has a recipe for making it with fresh raspberries). Anyone do anything with it?

[MomOfOneFunOne]

Well, I drizzle with olive oil, squeeze in a lemon (occassionally a lime), sprinkle with salt and toss. My family won't touch the boughten stuff. It's that or nothing.

[Jane Elliot]

Thanks, everyone! I'll give these ideas a try.

[abbeyej]

When doing EtL really well, my favorite was fresh salsa and homemade guacamole (just mash up fresh avocado). It made a big salad with greens and black beans seem like a great meal! And yes, it's not technically "low fat", but half an avocado fits in with EtL just fine. :)

[Laurie4b]

There is a great one in Jane Brody's Good Food Cookbook called Creamy Vinagrette. I don't know if copyright would allow me to post the amounts, but the ingredients are plain yogurt, apple cider vinegar, olive oil (small amt.) , Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt or soy sauce, and dill weed. It is SO good.

[BikeBookBread]

I like balsamic vinegar, a bit of olive oil, dijon mustard, kosher salt, a pinch of sugar (you can omit b/c good balsamic is actually sweet), cracked pepper. I shake it all really well in a screw-lid mason jar. Tastes different every time because I don't measure salad dressing :001_smile:

[Spy Car]

If you use rice vinegar you can use a higher ratio of vinegar to olive oil due to the low acidity of the rice vinegar, and therefore reduce the olive oil*.

 

And if you throw in a little light colored miso, and maybe a couple dashes of toasted sesame oil, you'll have a wonderful Japanese style dressing.

 

Bill

[lynn]

My mom's salads were the best. She would make her salad then put vinegar, oil, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic powder, italian seasoning. You can really put whatever you have a taste for.

[Laura Corin]

I just do extra virgin olive oil with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. I don't use too much olive oil, and in any case it's a good fat.

 

Laura

[E_Edgerton]

I do 1 part good balsamic to 2 parts olive oil, then add a couple of teaspoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper, a 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flake and about a tablespoon of fresh minced garlic. Or you could do a honey lime dressing which is super good. 1 part fresh lime juice, 1 part honey, 2 parts veg. oil. and a pinch of salt. We enjoy both of these.:)