How To Make 10 Organic Homemade Salad Dressings

Salad dressings are one of the worse culprits for nasty ingredients. Hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and a host of preservatives are included in conventional dressings to keep them in our refrigerators for ages. Making your own dressings are easy and it will save you grocery money, waste and space (how many half bottles of dressing sat in my refrigerator door until I finally threw them out only to repeat the cycle?). So, ditch the chemicals and make your own! 🙂

The Basics of Making a Vinaigrette: 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar. Remember this and you’re golden.

This can be adjusted to your taste preference once you get the hang of it, but around the 3:1 ratio is where it’s at for vinaigrettes. You can add a combination of different ingredients to get the flavor you’re going for. Fresh citrus juice (grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, etc.), mashed fruit, fresh herbs, dried herbs, garlic, shallots, ginger, sea salt, ground pepper, and spices are all great options. Citrus can take the place of vinegar or be added along with depending on what flavor outcome your are going for.

This picture chart from Goodeggs.com is a great guide to vinaigrettes.

3 Ways to Mix:

1) Jar it – 3:1 ratio, some herbs, a little garlic, citrus if necessary, throw it in a glass jar and shake. Done.

2) Whisk it – same as above, only throw it all in a bowl and whisk it, save the oil for last and drizzle it in slowly as you whisk

3) Blend it – same as the first, only throw it all in a blender or food processor, also save the oil for last, and as you blend, slowly pour in the oil.

All of the dressings below can be made any 3 ways. Whichever way you prefer or have time for, they are all quick, cheaper and healthier than buying from the store, (organic or not) because your ingredients are fresh.

Store: In a glass bottle or jar for up to 1 week.

10 Organic Homemade Salad Dressings

1)  Mason Jar Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. dijon mustard
• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 c. olive oil
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

You can blend it or simply put all ingredients in a small mason jar or any glass jar with a lid and shake the heck out of it. Voila! Easy, balsamic dressing. Adjust flavors if necessary.

The next three I fell in love with during Detox Week!

{Ginger Honey Soy Dressing & Mustard Vinaigrette}

2) Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing

• 1/3 c. Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1-1/2 Tbs. grain mustard
• 2/3 c. cold pressed olive oil
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Place the vinegar and mustard in a food processor and blend. With the processor still running, slowly pour in the olive oil and blend until it emulsifies (blends into one). Season with salt and pepper.

3) Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing

• 1/3 c. Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1-1/2 Tbs. grain mustard
• 3/4 Tbs. raw honey
• 2/3 c. cold pressed olive oil
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Place the vinegar, mustard and honey in a food processor and blend. With the processor still running, slowly pour in the olive oil and until it emulsifies. Season with salt and pepper.

4) Ginger Honey Soy Dressing

• 2 Tbs. fresh ginger, minced
• 2 Tbs. fresh garlic, minced
• 2 Tbs. raw honey
• 4 Tbs. soy sauce (Tamari for gluten-free) or Bragg’s Liquid Aminos
• 4 Tbs. olive oil

Blend the first four ingredients in a food processor or blender. As it is still blending, slowly add the oil until the dressing emulsifies.

5) Orange Garlic Dressing

• 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. juice from an orange
• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
• a bit of orange zest
• 1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a small mason jar or any glass jar with a lid and shake.

6)  Greek Dressing

• 1/4 c. & 1 tsp. red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tsp. dried oregano or 1 Tbs. fresh oregano, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. dried basil or 1 Tbs. fresh basil, chopped
• 1 garlic clove minced
• 1/2 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1.5 Tbs. fresh lemon juice
• 3 Tbs. + 1/2 tsp. olive oil
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients except the olive oil in a bowl first, then slowly whisk in olive oil until mixed.

7) Raspberry Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar or raw apple cider vinegar
• 1-1/2 Tbs. honey
• 1-1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1/2 c. fresh or frozen organic red raspberries, crushed
• 1/3 c. fresh basil, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 cup organic extra virgin olive oil, a little more if needed
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl except oil, then slowly add in oil whisking until blended.

8) Green Onion Vinaigrette

• 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
• 1 Tbs. Dijon mustard
• 1/4-1/2 c. green onions, diced
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a small mason jar or any glass jar with a lid and shake.

9) Caesar Dressing

• 2-1/2 Tbs. Greek-style yogurt
• 2-1/2 Tbs. *Vegenaise
• 2 anchovy fillets, mashed
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• Sea salt + ground pepper to taste

For a Vegan dressing, omit the greek yogurt and use 1/3 c. Vegenaise instead and leave out the parmesan.

Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl except oil, then slowly add in oil as you whisk until blended.

10) Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

• 1/4 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 lemon, juiced
• A bit of lemon zest
• 3/4 Tbs. honey
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

Blend the first four ingredients in a food processor or blender. As it is still blending, slowly add in the grapeseed oil until blended. Stir in the poppy seeds and serve.

10 organic salad dressings you can make on the fly. I hope to add to this list in the near future because there are so many more I wanted to include. Enjoy!

SALAD SHOP

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Even though I am not Vegan, I use Vegenaise in place of anything that has mayonnaise ’cause it’s awesome. You can find it in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods, New Seasons and most natural food stores.

If you want to learn a bit about emulsification, (the key to all things salad dressing) go here.

I ♥ Jamie Oliver. The featured video shows him making a jam jar dressing + a chop salad right on the cutting board.