I want to share one of my favorite vegan salad dressing recipes that is so versatile you can add it to practically any salad. You can also use it as a tasty marinade or dipping sauce to spice up your veggie tray or cauliflower pizza crust!
There is an assumption that delicious food takes a long time to create and that healthy food requires a lot more effort than not-so-healthy food. Some people even think that eating healthy food gets boring after a while. I love to equip people with a simple solution that addresses all of these issues–homemade healthy salad dressing.
As most of my clients know, dressings and dips are one of my secrets to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Homemade healthy salad dressing can also be used as a health-conscious marinade or dipping sauce. Essentially, this is the best salad dressing for minimizing prep time in the kitchen while maximizing menu variety. Just whip up a large batch of this avocado oil dressing and use it throughout the week for salads, dips, marinades, and more.
Making healthy comfort food
I graduated culinary school in the era when people were requesting meals based on the Atkins Diet. I was hesitant to prepare these kinds of meals for my clients because they contained so much fat and meat. I wanted to make sure my clients were eating plenty of veggies!
One of my A-list clients was a little bit too focused on comfort food. I had the difficult job of telling him he shouldn’t be eating the way he wanted to. Instead, I put the effort into making him healthier versions of the comfort food he was craving. He was able to get healthier and lose weight due to my alternative diet meals.
Here’s the thing. People are often reaching for comfort food recipes they love because they usually bring back a feeling or a memory. I try to give people a healthier version of the comfort food they love by understanding the flavors and figuring out how to swap the ingredients for healthier ones.
So many dressings are full of preservatives and unhealthy ingredients. That’s why it’s important to find a tasty creamy salad dressing that satisfies your comfort food cravings without sacrificing your health. This is the best salad dressing recipe to draw you away from ranch dressing and other unhealthy options.
The benefits of avocado oil
Avocado oil dressing is so much healthier than other dressings because of the amazing health benefits of avocado oil. This delicious oil can improve your heart health, skin health, and eye health.
The healthy fats in avocado oil can help your body better absorb nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K. It’s not enough simply to focus on getting plenty of these vitamins. You also need to make sure you’re getting enough healthy fats to metabolize them properly.
That’s why avocado oil is a staple in my recipes. It has a mild flavor and is easy to find. Once you get yourself a bottle, you can try out my tasty beetroot hummus and ginger carrot dressing as well.
Recommended salad pairings
As soon as you master this homemade healthy salad dressing recipe, you’ll want to try it with different salads until you find your favorites. My salad recipes are packed with superfoods and other healthy ingredients that combine to make a hearty, energizing meal.
If you’re a kale fan, you won’t want to miss my kale superfood salad. This recipe contains butternut squash, pumpkin seeds, and pomegranate seeds. All you need to do is substitute the avocado oil dressing below for the oil and vinegar dressing shown in the kale salad recipe.
For a healthy high-protein salad, try my white bean salad. It’s the perfect way to get plenty of protein if you’re a vegan or just trying to cut down on meat. This recipe features yummy tomatoes, kalamata olives, and cilantro along with the white beans. Rather than using the olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon juice in the recipe, pour this healthy avocado oil dressing over the white bean salad instead.
How to make avocado oil dressing for any salad
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Best Healthy Salad Dressing
Description
Makes 2.5 cups
Ingredients
1 cup filtered or alkaline water*
½ cup raw organic almonds, soaked overnight and drained
5 oz organic avocado oil (cold-pressed if possible)
1 tsp raw organic apple cider vinegar
3 oz fresh-squeezed organic lemon juice
2 tsp coconut aminos
2 cloves of garlic, halved with the inner seed removed
3 TB nutritional yeast
½ tsp cumin powder
½ tsp chili powder
½ tsp Himalayan pink salt
¼ tsp paprika
¼ tsp coriander
*For a thicker dip-like consistency, use 2.5 ounces less water.
Instructions
- Starting with the almonds first, place all ingredients into a Vitamix blender.
- Using the manual speed, begin blending the mixture slowly until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Gradually increase the speed until the dressing is a smooth and creamy consistency.
- Drizzle over salads or roasted vegetables, use as a dip for crudité and crackers, or use as a marinade for any protein.
Notes
Can be stored in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
