Clean Eating Salad Dressing Recipes


Clean Eating Salad Dressing Recipes


When it comes to salad dressing, the options are truly endless, but when it comes to clean eating approved salad dressings, those options significantly decrease. If you have ever read the nutrition label on a bottle of salad dressing, you have probably come across a laundry list of additives and preservatives you can’t pronounce in the ingredients list. In fact, you may have had a hard time even spotting any natural ingredients, but for some reason, this seems to be the regular among the most popular of dressings on the market today. To prove my point, let’s take a look at the ingredient list on a popular bottle of ranch:

Soybean Oil, Water, Egg Yolk, Sugar, Salt, Cultured Nonfat Buttermilk, Natural Flavors (Soy), Spices. Less than 1% of Dried Garlic, Dried Onion, Vinegar, Phosphoric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Modified Food Starch, Monosodium Glutamate, Artificial Flavors, Disodium Phosphate, Sorbic Acid and Calcium Disodium EDTA as Preservatives, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate.

So, from the looks of it, how many of these ingredients are you familiar with? Probably the first 6 are a safe bet, along with dried onion and vinegar. As far as the rest is concerned, it doesn’t look too promising. Thankfully, there is a way to be 100% sure of the ingredients that go into your dressing, and like everything else, it comes from getting into the kitchen and making it yourself. It isn’t nearly as difficult as you think it may be to craft a delicious dressing recipe of your own, and once you get the hang of it, the options are endless. Just think, you never have to fall victim to the hands of store bought dressing again! When you make it yourself, you have total control over what goes into your body, making it easy to stay on track no matter what your health goals may be.

The three clean eating salad dressing recipes I have for you today are AWESOME. Seriously, every single one of them is absolutely delicious and 100% natural! Below you will get the recipes for my Miso Ginger dressing, Almond Honey Mustard, and my Dairy-Free Ranch that is also gluten free and vegan friendly.


Clean Eating Salad Dressing Recipes


First up, my Miso Ginger Dressing. This dressing is an Asian inspired blend of flavors that works perfectly as a salad dressing or marinade. {GF & DF}


Miso Ginger Dressing


Recipe: Miso Ginger Dressing

Summary: A deliciously light, clean eating approved, Asian inspired dressing

Ingredients

  • 1.5 Tbsp. white miso paste
  • 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 1.25 Tbsp. raw honey
  • 1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger root
  • 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
  • 1.5 tsp. fresh squeezed lime juice

Instructions

  1. In a small dish, whisk miso paste into the rice vinegar until smooth, then stir in raw honey, minced ginger, sesame oil and lime juice.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

Next up, my creamy, delicious Almond Honey Mustard… {GF & DF}


Almond Honey Mustard


Recipe: Almond Honey Mustard

Summary: A deliciously creamy honey mustard, infused with raw almond butter

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 3 Tbsp. raw almond butter
  • 1 Tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. raw honey
  • 1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp. minced garlic
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Instructions

  1. In a small dish, whisk together orange juice, almond butter, apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard and oil until smooth. Add in minced garlic and salt, whisking until thoroughly mixed.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 4

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)
Last, but certainly not least, my Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing. This is the closest dairy free, gluten free and vegan ranch alternative I have ever tried, and I am beyond thrilled to share it with you! This recipe makes a thicker, creamy, ranch-style dressing that tastes incredibly similar to the original, especially considering it hardly contains any of the same ingredients. I highly recommend you give this recipe a try!! {GF, DF & V}


Dairy Free Ranch Dressing


 

Dairy Free Ranch Dressing


Recipe: Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing

Summary: The closest dairy-free ranch alternative I have ever tried. Gluten free and vegan friendly!

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup raw unsalted cashews; soaked for 10 minutes & drained
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp. dried parsley or a little under 1/4 cup fresh parsley
  • 2 tsp. dried dill
  • 2 tsp. onion powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic
  • 2 tsp. organic horseradish
  • 2 tsp. liquid aminos
  • 1 Tbsp. white vinegar

Instructions

  1. In a food processor or high speed blender, grind cashews to a fine, sand-like texture.
  2. When finished, add in coconut milk, pouring in only a small amount at a time while the processor is still running. Scrape down sides with a plastic spatula when needed, and blend until you have a completely smooth paste. This may take a few minutes.
  3. Add in your parsley lemon juice, vinegar, liquid aminos and horseradish. Blend until well mixed.
  4. When finished, add in the rest of your seasonings, along with your minced garlic. Blend until thoroughly mixed.
  5. If dressing is too thick, add in a small amount of lemon juice until you reach your desired consistency.
  6. Store remaining dressing in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

12 comments on Clean Eating Salad Dressing Recipes

  1. Melissa @ Nourish By Melissa
    February 20, 2014 at 8:08 am (10 years ago)

    I have a feeling my salads are going to start tasting a heck of a lot better……these look amazing! Great pictures by the way :)

    Reply
    • Danielle
      February 20, 2014 at 12:07 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks Melissa! Love making my own dressings, and I am working on more as we speak :)

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth @ Bowl of Delicious!
    February 21, 2014 at 12:01 pm (10 years ago)

    This miso dressing looks amazing! I am always on the hunt for clean salad dressing recipes, and haven’t bought bottled in years. I have a mayo-free ranch dressing that I make frequently, but have been looking for a lighter, sweeter dressing to try. I love all the ingredients you put in this dressing (and just happen to have all of them right now), and I am excited to try it out!!

    Reply
    • Danielle
      February 21, 2014 at 12:31 pm (10 years ago)

      Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Let me know what you think!

      Reply
  3. David
    April 5, 2014 at 7:35 pm (10 years ago)

    Sadly, these look delicious but the fact that I’m unable to copy and paste anything means I can’t load it into my recipe app. Guess I’ll look elsewhere.

    Reply
    • Danielle
      April 5, 2014 at 9:31 pm (10 years ago)

      Hi David, you should be able to copy and paste the recipes now. I checked a couple of settings that were accidentally marked, but it should work well now. Sorry about that!

      Reply
  4. Betsy
    May 13, 2014 at 4:20 pm (10 years ago)

    I just made the ranch… it’s absolutely fantastic. I swapped out 3/4 cup of ground cashew meal (Trader Joe’s) instead of the whole cashews. I also used fresh parsley (lots) so it’s quite green, but very tastey! thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
    • Danielle
      May 14, 2014 at 12:49 pm (10 years ago)

      So glad to hear that it worked out for you, Betsy, and thanks for including the swaps!

      Reply
  5. Ouisa
    May 22, 2014 at 7:09 pm (10 years ago)

    This is by far the BEST ranch dressing recipe I’ve ever tried. Super easy, and it’s so delicious, I don’t miss Hidden Valley one bit. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    • Danielle
      May 23, 2014 at 12:52 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Ouisa! That’s so great to hear!

      Reply
  6. Gailene
    March 31, 2018 at 5:08 am (6 years ago)

    Do you use canned coconut milk or regular carton coconut milk? I can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply
    • Danielle
      June 5, 2018 at 8:44 pm (6 years ago)

      Just carton coconut milk!

      Reply

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