More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes! Italian and Thousand Island
ByAfter sharing the Ranch Dressing Mix recipe, several of you asked for different varieties of healthy salad dressings. Here you go!
Italian Dressing Mix
1 1/2 t. garlic powder
1 T. onion powder
2 t. oregano
1 T. dried parsley
2 t. sea salt
1 t. pepper
1/4 t. thyme
1/2 t. dried celery flakes
Shake ingredients together and store in a jar. (It doesn’t really have to be a jar…I just really love my jars…)
To make Italian salad dressing: Mix 2 T dry mix with 1/4 cup vinegar (I prefer red wine vinegar), 2 t. water and 1/2 cup olive oil.
You can also use this dry mix (2-4 T.) to make Italian Roast Wraps!
Thousand Island Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise ( I use Hain Safflower)
1/3 c. ketchup
1/4 c. pickle relish
1 T. minced onion
1 hard boiled egg, chopped (optional)
Mix ingredients, cover and chill.
So…what’s your favorite kind of salad dressing? (mine’s ranch) Have I come up with enough healthier dressings (aka dressings with NO high fructose corn syrup or MSG) to tickle your fancy…or should I keep playing?
My husband is on a French kick, any ideas? I at least found one without HFCS so I feel a little better but still… I can’t wait to try your Italian recipe, though!
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These look great! Thanks.
I also enjoy a honey mustard… and I love raspberry vinaigrette.
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I don’t know that this one is really “healthy” though if you used low fat mayo maybe it would be more healthy but it really is yummy and easy!
http://www.beautifulcalling.ca/2009/06/easy-summer-dressing-cucumber.html
Thanks for sharing the Italian one!
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I don’t use dressings… I make my own vinaigrettes. Nothing more healthy than those!
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These will be a great start for us as we’re usually an Italian and Ranch type of bunch. We recently discovered a Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette that we really love. Maybe Danielle can share some of her vinaigrette recipes?
Thanks! Can’t wait to try these!!
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Homemade dressing is soooo good! I’m going to try your Italian one soon!
BTW, if Jennifer visits again:
Jennifer, try looking up a recipe for “Catalina” dressing. It’s pretty close to French. In my own research, “French” simply brought me to vinaigrette dressings, not the ‘red’ kind I’m thinking your husband probably enjoys!
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Those look yummy. I haven’t ever been a fan of the store version of Thousand Island, maybe I’ll have to try the homemade version. We are eating so many salads these days with the CSA box we get each week. It’s fun to mix it up.
For recipes, I really like Lindsay’s: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2008/02/make-it-yourself-part-2-dressings.html
I am really lazy when it comes to salad dressing and so often will find myself ready to sit down to dinner and realize THEN that there is no salad dressing! I have done three things:
1. I use the herb mix (in the bottle) from Azure. Mine is the French Garden mix. I add two T with oil and vinegar (usually apple cider or basalmic), and I’m set.
2. I mix up the herbs or spices ahead of time in bulk (using the correct ratios) and put them in a tight lidded container. Then when I need them, they are there.
3. I make sure to post my dressing or mix recipes on the inside of the cupboard door so that I have them at a moment’s notice.
That has helped me considerably. I still caved and bought a bottle of Olive Garden salad dressing on my recent trip, but that was a VERY rare occasion (No OG in Alaska!).
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We love Dorothy Lynch. That has a lot of ingredients–but it is made in Nebraska–I think. Maybe you could come up with a homemade recipe for that. (-:
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My favorite dressing is bleu cheese — I know, not good for you. I do make my own, though. I also love a fresh, homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Mine is similar to your Italian mix, but with balsamic vinegar.
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Here is another reason to avoid storebought salad dressings. Most of them are made with soybean oil, which is one of the worst oils for you, they just use it because it is so cheap. I always have olive oil and vinegar around, so I’d rather just make my own dressing from real, nutritious ingredients!
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How long can the thousand island & your ranch dressings stay in the fridge?
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Laura Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Up to two months!
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I love homemade dressings when I have the time to make up a batch, and these look wonderful, so I’m excited to try them. However, except for Paul Newman’s Olive Oil Vinaigrette, which I use on my favorite spinach salad, I usually just use a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, and Gaylord Houser’s Spike Seasoning. Or sometimes just the oil and seasoning. Spike is wonderful on everything!
Thanks so much, Laura. Love your recipes!
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I love blue cheese dressing. Any way to healthify that one?
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Laura Reply:
March 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
A friend of mine makes her own blue cheese. I’ll have to ask her how she does it, then post about it sometime!
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I brought this to a group dinner last night and it was a big hit! Thanks!
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My favorite kind of Salad is none other Potato Salad. it really taste yummy.’”.
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Since I so enjoy a good salad dressing, too, I thought I’d share mine here really quick! Hope that’s ok?
Creamy Pesto Dressing (this also makes a mean sauce for a grilled chicken sandwich – served on Laura’s Homemade Buns, of course!) ;o)
3/4 c. regular olive oil
1 c. mayonnaise
3/4 c. buttermilk
2 Tbs. finely grated parmesan or romano cheese – (I always add more because we REALLY like our cheese!)
2 Tbs. crushed dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 garlic clove, minced fine
hot pepper sauce
Whisk together oil and mayonnaise. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Cover and let flavors meld overnight in fridge.
My husband – who has always been really picky about salad dressings – LOVES this dressing above all others. :o)
Enjoy!
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I love the Italian dressing – thank you so very much! I am a salad lover and hate using any food from the store that is processed. I’d much rather make it myself. That way I know for certain what’s in it (and what’s not). Being able to keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 months is awesome too.
And Sara Sanders – thanks for the creamy pesto! You’re right about it being awesome on grilled chicken. So Yummy!
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Would love a good greek salad dressing recipe. Just found out my favorite has MSG in it. :(
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OK, so I made the Italian dressing tonight and thought it was good. It wasn’t exactly the typical Italian dressing I had in mind, but I didn’t care since I could eat it knowing everything that was in it wasn’t going to kill me before 50, lol. It was a little mild compared to what I’m used to, but it still tasted good.
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