Do It Yourself Dressings

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Salad dressings might only cost a dollar or less, especially if you buy the store-brand bottle. But for about the same cost, you can get a whole lot more flavor if you make your own. With a little bit of know-how, using ingredients you already have on hand, you can make some incredible dressings that will wake up your lettuce and veggies.

Choose your new favorite:

• Best. Balsamic. Dressing. Ever.
• Creamy Honey Mustard
• Avocado Ranch Yogurt Dressing
• Italian Dressing
• Maple Dressing

Best. Balsamic. Dressing. Ever.

Prep time: Less than 5 min. Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 T. balsamic vinegar
• 2 t. extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ t. honey
• ½ t. Dijon mustard
• 1/16 t. (about half of 1/8 t.) salt
• 1/16 t. (about half of 1/8 t.) black pepper

Directions

1. Whisk everything together in a bowl. Makes just under one-quarter cup.
2. Divide dressing for two servings.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 60 calories (40 from fat), 4.5 g total fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 96 mg sodium, 4.5 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 0 g protein.
Exchanges: 1 fat, 1 free.

Creamy Honey Mustard

Prep time: Less than 5 min. Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 2 T. Greek yogurt, fat-free
• 1 t. honey
• 1 t. Dijon mustard
• ½ t. lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
• 1 pinch salt (2 shakes from shaker)
• 1 pinch pepper

Directions

1. Whisk everything together in a bowl. Makes a little more than two tablespoons. If you want to have a little more kick, add another one-quarter to one-half teaspoon of mustard. You can also add one-quarter teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 49 calories (0 from fat), 0 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 229 mg sodium, 9 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 2 g protein.
Exchanges: ½ starch, 1 free.

Avocado Ranch Yogurt Dressing

Prep time: 10 min. Servings: 4 (2 T. each)

Ingredients

• 2 T. Greek yogurt, fat-free
• 1 T. avocado, ripe
• 1 T. apple cider vinegar
• ¼ t. honey
• ¼ t. onion powder
• ¼ t. garlic powder
• ¼ t. dried dill
• 1/8 t. salt
• 1/8 t. black pepper
• 1-2 T. water or fat-free milk

Directions

1. Place all ingredients, except for water or fat-free milk, into a food processor.
2. Process until creamy and smooth, then thin out with one to two tablespoons water or fat-free milk. Makes just under one-half cup of dressing.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 23 calories (9 from fat), 1 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 2 mg cholesterol, 37 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 1.5 g sugar, 1 g protein.
Exchanges: 1 free.

Italian Dressing

Prep time: Less than 5 min. Servings: 1

Ingredients

• 1 T. red or white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• 1 t. extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ t. honey
• ¼ t. Dijon mustard
• ¼ t. Italian seasoning blend
• ¼ t. onion powder
• ¼ t. garlic powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch black pepper

Directions

1. Whisk everything together in a bowl. Makes under two tablespoons.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 49 calories (40 from fat), 4.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 165 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 0 g protein.
Exchanges: 1 fat.

Maple Dressing

Prep time: Less than 5 min. Servings: 1

 

Ingredients

• 1 T. apple cider vinegar
• 1 t. real maple syrup
• 1 t. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch black pepper

Directions

1. Whisk everything together in a bowl. Makes just under two tablespoons.

Nutrition Information

Per serving: 60 calories (40 from fat), 4.5 g total fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 135 mg sodium, 4 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 0 g protein.
Exchanges: 1 fat, 1 free.

GLUTEN-FREE recipes are prepared without any wheat, barley, rye or triticale. Check the label on each ingredient to make sure the brand you are using does not contain these grains in any form (flour, bread, stuffing, bran germ, malt, starch, etc.).

VEGAN recipes are prepared without any animal products including fats, milk or eggs. Check the label on each ingredient to make sure the brand you are using does not contain these items.

VEGETARIAN recipes are prepared without any meat, poultry or seafood. Check the label on each ingredient to make sure the brand you are using does not contain these items. TOPS vegetarian recipes may contain animal products, including foods with animal fats, milk or eggs.

LOW-SODIUM recipes have 140 mg of sodium or less per serving.

All exchange values are approximate. When an optional or additional ingredient is offered, exchange values may change.