Salads are a bit of a passion of mine. So are homemade salad dressings. Once you start making your own, you will never go back to bottled. I usually make three dressings at one time…as long as you are pulling out the olive oil and vinegars why not make enough to last all week so you can grab them when needed? It’s a real time saver. So let’s get to it, here are My Favorite Fall/Winter Salad Dressings!
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Homemade Salad Dressing: Better, Healthier, Delicious and Quick!
Store bought dressings are usually made with processed, tasteless, odorless, flavorless oils, not to mention preservatives, colorings and flavorings. Homemade salad dressing can be made in minutes and in my humble opinion fresh is always best! I think you will agree once you taste these vinaigrettes. Each of these recipes is grain free, gluten free and dairy free.
My Three Favorites:
For this post I chose the three dressing I use most during fall and winter: Pomegranate, Creamy Lemon, and Apple Vinaigrette. Each can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to a week.
THE FORMULA FOR A GREAT DRESSING:
Salad dressing actually has a formula: two parts healthy oil to one part acid. ‘Acid’ is either fruit juice or vinegar. For those of you that don’t get the “part” thing…this means you use twice as much oil than vinegar or fruit juice. Example: 1/2 cup olive oil and a 1/4 cup vinegar. Or 4 Tablespoons avocado oil and 2 Tablespoons fruit juice. Got it? Good! Then you add flavor enhancers such as: honey, mustard, tahini, sea salt, freshly ground pepper, chili powder, chives, garlic, or green onions and voila! A healthy, delicious salad dressing in just a few minutes!
Need Some Salad Recipes?
To learn the secrets to making an amazing salad, click!~ Linda Spiker
The Recipes: My Favorite Winter Salad Dressings: Pomegranate, Creamy Lemon and Apple Vinaigrette!
What you will need for Pomegranate Vinaigrette: You can reduce your own pomegranate juice to make a syrup or save time buying by buying antioxidant rich Pomegreat Pomegranate Syrup (12 oz or save money with the 24 oz).
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Three favorite salad dressings for fall/winter
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup Pomegranate juice reduction* to make your own see instructions below
- 2 teaspoons finely minced shallots
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- juice of half a lemon
- 2 teaspoons honey optional, if you are living sugar free omit
- pinch of sea salt
- 1/3 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon Juice
- 1/2 -1 small clove garlic, peeled and minced (garlic can be used to taste)
- 1 teaspoon honey
- pinch sea salt
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon freshly chopped chives
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 6 tablespoons frozen organic apple juice concentrate (reseal with plastic and a rubber band and place back in freezer to avoid waste)
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
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Combine all ingredients in glass container. Shake! Can be kept refrigerated for one week.
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*To reduce pomegranate juice, simply simmer 1 cup pomegranate juice in small sauce pan until it is reduced to a ¼ cup. I measure after 15 minutes and every few minutes after that. Just be sure not to forget about it! After it is reduced to a ¼ cup, allow to cool before using.
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(If you do not have a blender, whisk vigorously until emulsified) Place everything except chives in a blender and blend till smooth and creamy. Add chives and whisk. Can be stored in the fridge in an air tight container for up to a week.
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Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Save extra dressing in covered container in the fridge for up to a week.
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All photos and recipes are copyrighted by Linda Spiker.
Whole 30, grain free, gluten free, dairy free, paleo
LOVE these wonderful dressing recipes and plan to link to this post in my next meal plan. I appreciate that you made a note about the honey being optional for those of us living sugar free (at least for the next 30 days – I’m doing whole30). Happy New Year to you, friend! xoxo
I always make homemade. these are 3 winners…can’t wait to try them all
Homemade is the best!
Pomegranate dressing sounds divine! It’s in season too!
Wow these are lovely. I love that apple one! Yum! Your kitchen is so beautiful Linda. Pretty photos as always. xo
Thank you Emily! I do love my kitchen!
We have not been eating much salad in the winter. I realized that a few days ago and I missed it! So I made salad for breakfast. These dressings also inspire me! Gonna get back into more salads…..despite the foot of snow outside!
I know for other people “winter” means less produce is available. In California it means ‘spring’lol.
I love homemade dressings, too! I always get a little lazy and just use a splash of oil and vinegar on my salads but you just inspired me to up my dressing game!
Yay!
Dude. This is so pinnable. I consider myself a salad savant but these are fab. Thank you so much. I will try these this weekend! xo
Glad you like them!
These look delicious and healthier! Thank you so much for sharing! I haven’t been in a salad mood lately, but this post has definitely changed that!
I’ve been all about homemade salad dressings these days! It’s So much healthier. The apple vinaigrette some delicious.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
I agree that homemade dressing are amazing. These all look delicious. I can’t wait to try the pomegranate dressing
These sounds amazing. I think I’ll have to try them. I especially love dressings with lemon.
This is so perfect. I’m on the paleo diet to help reduce my migraines and I’m getting really sick of the salad dressings I’ve been using, or just the simple oil and vinegar. Need to try all of these. – Katy
I am doing Whole 30 and salads are saving me from boredom!
I have tried pomegranate dressing in the past and it is so amazing. Frankly, I don’t know why people buy salad dressing. It is so much easier and healthier to make them at home. Your collection is awesome.
Agreed Rini!
These look amazing! I love dried fruit and apples in my salad… must try the pomegranate dressing!
Thanks Amy!
What a beautiful recipe. So easy to make and delicious!