If you are trying to diet to lose some weight, you probably think that salads are one of the best options when you are counting calories. The problem is that salads may not be saving your diet if you are putting high fat and high calorie dressings on your salads. Have you looked at the bottle before you top off your salad with dressing? Take a look and you may be surprised at what you are dumping on your salad. The good news is that you can easily make some great salad dressings at home that are tasty and they will not load up your salad with extra calories you do not want or need either. Here are a few great salad dressing ideas that you will want to give a try.
Creamed Herb Salad Dressing
One great option to consider when you want a lighter salad dressing is a nice creamed herb salad dressing. This is a dressing you can easily make at home and it is creamy and light. It combines together yogurt, a bit of mayo, sour cream, honey, minced onion, dill, onion salt, white pepper, and even Dijon mustard. A bit of vinegar gives it a nice kick as well. This makes a wonderful dressing for your green salads or you may even want to use it on a potato or a cucumber salad.
Tarragon and Blue Cheese Salad Dressing
Another wonderful low fat and low calories dressing you can start using for a healthier salad is a wonderful tarragon and blue cheese salad dressing. Just a bit of blue cheese is enough to add great flavor to this dressing. A bit of honey also adds some sweetness as well. It includes some tarragon and red wine vinegar, as well as some heart healthy extra virgin olive oil. To make it creamier, some Greek yogurt can be added too.
Roasted Garlic and Soy Salad Dressing
If you enjoy Asian inspired flavors, this roasted garlic and soy salad dressing will be the perfect option, since it has a very rich and nutty flavor that you are sure to enjoy. It includes soy sauce, sesame oil, some ginger for a nice kick, lime juice, garlic, and more. The combination is full of flavor while being low in calories and fat. However, you may want to go with low sodium soy sauce to reduce the sodium in this dressing.
Sweet and spicy Mediterranean salad dressing recipe. This tasty dressing offers a combination of spicy and sweet for a great dressing which is brightly colored and full of flavor.
Things You'll Need:
- ¼ teaspoon of ground coriander
- ½ teaspoon of black mustard seeds
- 1/8 teaspoon of ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of golden raisins
- ½ cup of carrot juice
- 1 tablespoon of plain, nonfat yogurt
- 4 sprigs of cilantro, fresh
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- 1½ teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup of olive oil, extra virgin
- Ground black pepper to taste
In a dry skillet, heat coriander, mustard seeds, and the cumin on medium for about three minutes. Add the carrot juice and allow to simmer for about 3 minutes, or until reduced. In a blender, put the hot carrot juice mix and the raisins. Allow it to stand for about five minutes until the raisins plump up. Add in the rest of ingredients, except olive oil. Blend until well combined. Add olive oil and then blend until the mixture is smooth.
