The healthy fats in salad dressing found from oils like olive or avocado, help your body absorb the good nutrients from all those veggies you top it with. A new study in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research showed that people absorb more of the heart-healthy carotenoids in fruit and vegetables when they toss their salads with dressings high in nutritious monounsaturated fats. But, not all dressings are created equal and, in fact, can come with hidden ingredients you would never want to have on your plate? Your safest bet? Make your own!
What is so bad about store-bought versions? Here are a few common ingredients that they add and why you should avoid them:
Instead, try these three homemade dressings that will leave you asking why you’ve ever bought the bottled counterpart before:
Serves: 4 salads
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Place first seven salad ingredients in a blender & blend. With the blender running, add ½ cup of the olive oil at a time, to create a smooth emulsion. When all the oil is incorporated, season the dressing to taste with additional salt and lemon juice. Add water to thin the dressing to desired consistency.
Serves: 2 salads
INGREDIENTS:
*Note: you can add local raw honey if you need that balance, I personally like it this way.
DIRECTIONS:
Put all ingredients, as listed into a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid or a blender.
Serves: 2 salads
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Blend all the dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy.
*The nutritional benefits matched with the tasty flavor these dressings will add to your salad are a no-brainer. Enjoy!
