Something that always drives me nuts in the grocery store is picking up a bottle of salad dressing marketed as being healthy, only to turn the bottle around and see vegetable oil/canola oil or soybean oil as the main ingredient. Don’t let the marketing fool you – even if the front of the bottle says “made with extra virgin olive oil,” it likely has another form of cheap unhealthy refined oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, soybean oil) used in conjunction. Always check your labels.
There are some good and healthy salad dressing options on grocery store shelves, but most of them [by far] are not. Primal Kitchen has a good variety, Bragg is good, and you may have some healthy local maker options as well (often found at local health food stores). Just make sure to check the labels and avoid things like refined vegetable oils, high fructose corn syrup, excess sugar, and artificial flavors and colors.
Another fantastic option… create your own healthy homemade salad dressing!
It took me way too long to start making my own dressings from scratch, but I’m finally doing it now, and I’m obsessing over this one. It’s great not only on garden salads, but orzo/pasta and quinoa salad as well.
Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing: Honey Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- 1 minced garlic clove (1-2 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon basil
*Note: If you happen to have some on your spice rack, you can use 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning instead of the oregano and basil (Italian seasoning already has those seasonings in it).
Directions
- Combine all ingredients into a mason jar, put the top on tightly, and shake very well.
I recommend making this batch fresh for a salad, but if you don’t use all of it right away, refrigerate and just be sure to use or toss the rest within 2 days. You can half this recipe to make smaller batches as well. I’ve found this size batch to be perfect for larger salads/pasta salads. Without the addition of preservatives, and because onions and garlic are involved, it could turn rancid within a few days.
Enjoy!