If your goal is to eat more plants this year, salads are a great go-to option for lunch or dinner. You can pack in all the veggies and on top of that, the possibilities are endless with the different flavor combinations that you can mix up. For me, a good salad is all about texture and the dressing that I use. Salad dressings can make or break whether I can really enjoy a salad or not. If the dressings are tasty, I can switch up my salads and eat them multiple times a week. Because of this fact, I started making my own dressings years ago and haven’t looked back since. The flavors are just so much better than store bought dressings that there is no comparison. I have so many different ones that I make, but I compiled my top five favorite dressings that I make the most for you to try at home too. I have 5 simple homemade salad dressings that will transform the way you think about salads and will help you eat more plants all year long!
I am sharing recipes for my Caesar dressing, homemade Greek ranch, Italian, Asian, and apple cider vinegar dijon so that there is a dressing for every kind of salad you are craving! I find that if you incorporate making a couple of different salad dressings during your weekly meal prep, it sets you up for success for eating more salads throughout the week. All of these dressings stay good for up to two weeks in the fridge as well so it’s well worth your time to take a few minutes to prep them.
I love making my own dressings because I can control what goes into each one and I usually have all of the ingredients on hand to whip one up right in my fridge and pantry. It’s more cost effective too which is always a plus, especially if you have a grocery budget each month! Once you get the hang of making the basic dressings, you can switch it up and start playing around with different flavors. I like to switch up my vinegars, add citrus, different herbs, jams, and so much more. The options are truly endless and are so fun to play around with.
Say bye bye to boring salads and give these five dressings a try for yourself!
If you want a little salad inspiration, here are a few of my faves:
Roasted Sumac Chickpea Caesar Salad
Homemade Greek Ranch:
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt
1/4 Cup Mayo
3 Tbsp. Milk or Buttermilk
2 Tbsp. White Vinegar
2 Tsp. Dried Dill
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Tsp. Dried Onion
1 Tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
Note: Add more milk if desired for thinner consistency. This dressing also makes a great veggie dip!
Homemade Caesar:
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp. Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp. White Vinegar
1 Tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1/8 Tsp. Anchovy Paste
1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Clove of Garlic
1/2 Tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
Note: Leave out anchovy paste if desired, but it really adds that signature Caesar flavor. Add more mayo if a thicker consistency is desired.
Easy Italian Vinaigrette:
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1/2 Tsp. Dried Basil
1/2 Tsp. Dried Oregano
1/2 Tsp. Dried Thyme
1 Tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
Note: Alternatively you can use 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning already blended.
Apple Cider Vinegar Honey Dijon Vinaigrette:
Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tsp. Honey
2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1 Tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
Asian Vinaigrette:
1/4 Cup Rice Wine Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Toasted Sesame Oil
2 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
1 Tsp. Sugar
1 Finely Minced Garlic Clove
1 Tbsp. Finely Grated Ginger
Directions:
For each dressing, simply add ingredients to a mason jar and shake until well combined. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
These dressings couldn’t be any easier to make and I promise that you will never want to buy your dressings at the store again!
