Do yourself a favor when you get home from work today.  Open up your fridge and dump out all of the bottles of salad dressings that are cramming your shelves full.  Prepared salad dressings are typically loaded with all kinds of stuff you don’t want to eat.  And if you think you’re being healthy by using fat-free dressings on your salads, think again.  They’re loaded with sugar and lots of ingredients you can’t even pronounce—so throw them out.

Here are two quick and easy recipes that take less than 2 minutes to make.  They taste BETTER than any bottled dressings and, with all natural ingredients, they’re much better for you.

Quick Balsamic Dressing

The key to this dressing is to use really good, aged balsamic vinegar.  You can buy it in Italian specialty markets or high end grocery stores.  They’re expensive (be prepared to spend around $25 or so) but a little bit will go a long way.  It should have consistency similar to maple syrup (not vinegar).  Mix the following ingredients in a glass with a whisk:

  • 4 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
  • 2 TSP Mustard (use your favorite)
  • 1 TSP Garlic Salt
  • 1 TSP Raw Sugar (or honey)

I actually don’t measure any of the ingredients—I just put them in the glass and mix it up.  You may find you like more vinegar and less olive oil or want extra mustard in it.  Just have fun with it.

Quick Lemon Dressing

This crisp and refreshing dressing is perfect when the main course is a bit heavy.  I love this dressing on an arugula, pear and shaved parmesan salad.

  • 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 1-2 TSP Honey
  • Salt & Pepper to taste

If you have any quick salad dressing recipes that you love, please share them with us!  And let me know if you threw out those old bottles of salad dressings!

Eat Well & Smile,

Molly