You thought you were doing good by ditching the calorie-laden creamy and oily dressings at the supermarket, but, according to food scientists, dressings with some fat can help you absorb more carotenoids from vegetables in your salad. By making your own dressing (and trust us, it’s so easy a cooking newbie can’t mess it up!), you can ensure your vinaigrette, ranch or Caesar doesn’t have any unpronounceable preservatives or artificial sweeteners like the prepackaged stuff. So ro-maine calm and dress for success! Drizzle these homemade salad dressing recipes on salads, grains, sandwiches and meats, or get dipping with raw veggies.
1. Lighter Caesar Dressing
The perfect blend of creamy, salty and lemony, this recipe has all of the flavor of regular Caesar. But it’s secretly lighter thanks to swapping protein-packed Greek yogurt instead of raw egg yolks that have high cholesterol. Try it on salad with croutons made from whole wheat bread. Photo and Recipe: Jessica / How Sweet It Is
2. Fresh Ginger Vinaigrette
The bright flavor of this sweet and savory dressing will liven up any plate of greens. Plus, ginger has been shown to alleviate nausea and improve digestion. If you can’t get enough of that sharp ginger taste, add more than a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to your dressing. Photo and Recipe: Brenda /A Farmgirl’s Dabbles
3. Honey Mango Sriracha Dressing
Sass up your salad with some hot sauce! This summery dressing gets its sunshine color and sweetness from pureed mango, which is also chock-full of fiber, folate and vitamin C. Mix it up with chopped chicken and sprouts for a Thai-inspired salad. Photo and Recipe: Kerry / Milk Glass Kitchen
4. Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Drizzle this berry nice dressing over a salad for a pop of purple! It pairs well with a bed of spinach with almonds, goat cheese and blueberries or blackberries. Use a food processor or blender to mix the ingredients, and then slowly add water until you achieve the desired consistency. Photo and Recipe: Nicole / A Local Choice
5. Asian Ginger Carrot Dressing
Love the orange dressing served at your favorite sushi restaurant? Now you can recreate it at home! The flavors deepen the longer you let this recipe sit in the fridge, so make it ahead of time and then serve on iceberg lettuce or other mixed greens. Photo and Recipe: Gina / Skinny Taste
6. Homemade Ranch
Greek yogurt serves as the creamy base for this lightened up ranch dressing. Add skim milk and dried seasonings, wait an hour or two to let the flavors develop, and you’ve got yourself one satisfying dip! Try brushing it on chicken before baking for a finger-licking good marinade, or use it on your favorite Cobb salad. Photo and Recipe: Sharon / The Honour System
7. Balsamic Vinaigrette
Use this recipe for salads, roasted vegetables, sandwiches and more. It’s as easy as it is versatile. If you like a thicker dressing, combine ingredients in a blender instead of whisking them by hand. Photo and Recipe: Mary / Barefeet in the Kitchen
8. Green Goddess Dressing
This dressing’s usually loaded with mayo and sour cream, but we’ve found a version that puts a healthier spin on things by swapping in Greek yogurt. Plus, it packs some heat with a jalapeno pepper! Liven up pasta salads or other grains with this cilantro-packed condiment. Photo and Recipe: Sonja and Alex / A Couple Cooks
9. Dijon Vinaigrette
Your go-to honey mustard dressing is likely packing extra calories, so opt for this vinaigrette with a kick instead. If you don’t like seed mustard, use a normal or spicy version. Photo and Recipe: Lisa and Anna / Garnish With Lemon