Recipe: Salad Dressing

A huge bowl of raw vegetables is a wealth of health. But the toppings can turn a vitamin rich meal into the equivalent of a Big Mac. Here are some whole food salad dressings to keep your salad nutritionally healing.

Honey Mustard Dressing

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup tarragon vinegar

1 garlic clove smashed

1 tsp organic herb seasoning (no MSG)

1/2 tsp dijon mustard

1 Tblsp honey

sea salt

Pesto Dressing

3 cups fresh basil

3 cloves garlic

5 Tblsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

Blend all. Serve over pasta salad: quinoa veggie curl pasta, arugula, romaine and julienned carrots.

Carrot/Parsley Salad

3 grated carrots

1/3 cup chopped parsley

1/2 clove garlic

2 tsps apple cider vinegar

2 Tblsp extra virgin olive oil

sea salt

Vegenaise "Ranch" Dressing

1 - 14oz jar Vegenaise

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 Tblsp minced garlic

4 Tblsp dried parsley flakes

Blend all. Serve over full bowl of raw diced vegetables.

Yogurt Dressing

1 small Oikos yogurt

1/2 grated cucumber

1 tsp minced garlic

2 Tblsp fresh dill minced

Mix all in a bowl. Serve over spinach salad: spinach, fresh strawberries, celery, slivered almonds.

Fruit Dressing

1 cup pineapple

2 apples

1 banana

1/4 cup coconut

1/2 cup pecans

3 dates

Blend all in food processor. Serve over spinach salad: Spinach, walnuts and julienned carrots.

Avocado Dressing

2 avocados

1 tomato

1/2 small red onion

1 large garlic clove

1/3 cup cilantro

2 Tblsp lemon juice

sea salt

Place all in blender. Serve over raw veggie salad.

Salad dressings are a perfect way to sneak vitamins into your day. Experiment with soy yogurt, curcumin/turmeric which has highly medicinal qualities, use herbs from your neighbor's garden: rosemary, dill, mint, experiment with new vinegars (no MSG), use cayenne for weight loss (and a kick!),and use parsley to cleanse the kidneys.