Homemade salad dressings taste one million (actually more) times better than store-bought dressings and they're so much healthier for you. When made with natural ingredients, salad dressings can be a good source of key nutrients like healthy fats, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. What you dress your salad with should be as healthy as the salad itself!
Most store-bought dressings are made with processed and poor quality saturated fats and oils (soybean, canola, safflower, vegetable), refined sugar, artificial flavours, preservatives and too much sodium. While a store-bought dressing may seem more convenient, it's really fast to make a jar of salad dressing to have on hand for the week. Want convenience? Cut corners by buying pre-made salad mixes. Toss the dressing that's included and use your own delicious and health-supporting dressing instead. When you make a salad that is chock-full of good nutrients, it deserves a dressing just as nutritious!
This lemony vinaigrette is my everyday go-to dressing because it's so simple and quick, and I can't think of a single salad that it doesn't complement. I've used it on potato salad, coleslaw, roasted veggie salads, lentil and chickpea salads and my personal favourite Arugula Pear Brussels Sprouts Salad.
Liquid Gold Salad Dressing
Makes 8 Servings
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 lemons juiced
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp Maple Syrup
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Whisk or shake all the ingredients in a mason jar. If it's too tart, add a little more olive oil or a touch more maple syrup. Enjoy!
Note: This keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The olive oil will solidify when chilled. Just let it warm on the counter for a
few minutes then shake.