Most leafy greens have a neutral flavor, so the dressing you use on your salad, as well as other ingredients you add like herbs and spices, will greatly affect the flavor of the entire dish. The good news is that you can customize the flavor to suit your mood – whether you like something light and creamy or something heavy and full-bodied.
Here are 3 salad dressing recipes that will bring your greens and veggies to life:
Honey Raspberry Vinaigrette
What you need:
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1 cup fresh raspberries
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2/3 cup balsamic vinegar
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1/4 cup olive oil
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1 tablespoon of honey
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1 tablespoon white sugar
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1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix the raspberries and white sugar in a bowl and let stand for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture is juicy. Mash berries with a fork until runny (or puree in a blender for 30 seconds if you prefer a smoother dressing). Pour into a glass jar with a lid, then add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, and salt to the jar. Cover and shake until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Cheese and Peppercorn Dressing
What you need:
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2 cups low-fat plain yogurt
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1/4 cup grated parmesan or more to taste
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1/4 cup finely chopped green onion
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2 tablespoons of milk
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2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
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1 tablespoon mayonnaise
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2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
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1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
In a bowl, combine yogurt, parmesan cheese, onion, parsley mayonnaise, ground black pepper, and salt. Slowly add milk and stir until desired thinness is achieved. Add more cheese or salt to adjust flavor. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
Sweet Bacon Dressing
What you need:
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8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
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1 1/2 cups white sugar
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1/2 cup white vinegar
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1/4 cup water
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3 teaspoons cornstarch
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1/2 teaspoon salt
Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Slowly stir in the vinegar and water, stirring constantly. Place the crumbled bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat, then pour the sugar mixture over the bacon. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
These delicious dressing recipes will instantly liven up any green or veggie salad mix, even with fruit – try them at home today and you’ll be sure to end up eating healthier salads more often!
Thanks to Adrian T. Cheng