Elevate Your Whole30 Experience with Delicious Homemade Salad Dressings

Embarking on a Whole30 reset doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. These Whole30 salad dressing recipes use healthy, accessible ingredients compliant with the diet, ensuring your salads are anything but boring. These dressings are naturally sweetened, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, making them versatile additions to your meals. They also double as marinades and dipping sauces, expanding their utility beyond just salads!

Why Make Your Own Whole30 Salad Dressings?

Finding Whole30-compliant salad dressings can be challenging. Many store-bought options contain added sugars, grains, dairy, or additives, which are off-limits during the program. Making your own dressings is a simple, budget-friendly way to control ingredients and ensure compliance. Plus, it allows you to experiment with flavors and create unique blends that suit your taste.

Several brands offer Whole30-approved dressings, including Tessemae’s, Primal Kitchen, Whole30 Brand, The New Primal, and Thrive Market. However, it's always wise to double-check labels to confirm compliance.

Key Components of a Great Whole30 Dressing

Crafting a flavorful Whole30 dressing involves balancing acidity, richness, and spice. Here are the essential elements:

• Acidity: Citrus juices (lemon, lime, orange), Dijon mustard (check for added sugar), and vinegars (balsamic, red wine) cut through the richness of oils.
• Richness: High-quality oils like olive oil, light olive oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil (in moderation) provide a smooth base.
• Spice: Premade spice mixes or individual spices like Italian seasoning add depth and complexity.

5 Flavorful Whole30 Salad Dressing Recipes

Here are five recipes ranging from light and zesty to creamy and herbaceous:

Read also: Satisfy Your Cravings with Whole Foods

1. Whole30 Carrot-Ginger Salad Dressing

Flavor: A light and zesty blend of finely pulsed carrots and ginger, enhanced with rice vinegar and coconut aminos. Toasted sesame oil adds a nutty finish, creating a vibrant and rich texture.

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. carrot
• 0.4 oz. fresh ginger root
• 3 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1. 5 tsp toasted sesame oil
• ¼ tsp coarse sea salt (or to taste)
• 2 to 4 tbsp water
• ⅓ cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Pulse carrot and ginger in a blender or food processor until very finely chopped.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse a few more times until the ingredients have almost been pureed.
3. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Shake before using.

2. Whole30 Sweet Basil Citrus Salad Dressing

Flavor: Fresh basil leaves, sweet orange, and tangy lemon juice sing in this dressing, with a hint of Dijon mustard. Whisked with olive oil, it's a citrusy, herbaceous dressing that's light yet flavorful.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh basil leaves
• ½ cup orange juice
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1-2 tsp Dijon mustard
• ¼ tsp coarse sea salt
• ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
• ½ cup olive oil

Instructions:

1. Pulse basil leaves a few times until finely chopped.
2. In a bowl, combine chopped basil with the rest of the ingredients except olive oil.
3. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing.
4. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Shake before using.

3. Whole30 Creamy Caper-Chive Salad Dressing

Flavor: A creamy concoction featuring tangy Dijon mustard and mayo, combined with the briny punch of capers and fresh chives.

Ingredients:

• 2. 5 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp Whole30 mayo
• 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 oz. capers, drained and chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
• ⅓ cup light olive oil

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients except olive oil.
2. Slowly drizzle in the oil while whisking to emulsify the dressing.
3. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge. Best use in 1 week.

4. Whole30 Herbed Tahini-Dill Salad Dressing

Flavor: Nutty tahini meets zesty lemon and aromatic dill in this creamy, herby dressing.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup tahini
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
• 2-4 tbsp ice-cold water (to thin)

Instructions:

1. Combine and whisk all ingredients well. The texture should be creamy and smooth.
2. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge. Best use in 1 week.
3. Add more ice-cold water to thin the texture before serving.

5. Whole30 Yogurt Mint Dressing/Dip

Flavor: Refreshingly tangy dairy-free yogurt combined with zesty lemon, pungent garlic, and cool mint.

Read also: Whole Foods Breakfast Options

Ingredients:

• ½ cup dairy-free yogurt (coconut or cashew)
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped

Instructions:

1. Combine and whisk all ingredients well. The texture should be creamy and smooth.
2. Different dairy-free yogurts have different acidity levels. Taste and make seasoning adjustments.
3. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge.

Tips for Whole30 Salad Dressing Success

• Choose Quality Oils: Opt for high-quality oils such as olive oil, light olive oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil (in limited quantities).
• Freshness Counts with Fruits: Always use fresh citrus like lemon, lime, oranges, or berries.
• Diverse Vinegars: Feel free to use a variety of kinds of vinegar, as most vinegar is Whole30 compatible. Balsamic vinegar is Whole30 approved, but not all balsamic vinaigrettes are Whole30 approved because some balsamic vinegars/vinaigrettes have sugar or sulfites added which are not Whole30 approved.
• The Right Emulsifier: To get that perfect consistency, use Dijon mustard, whole eggs, or Whole30-compliant mayo as emulsifiers.
• Salad Green Choices: Match your greens to your dressing! Tender baby greens are delightful with light, citrus dressings, while robust greens like kale, bok choy, or chard are fabulous with creamy dressings.

Beyond Salads: Versatile Uses for Your Dressings

These dressings aren't just for salads. They double as Whole30 sauces or dressings for noodles, and even as marinades for meats and vegetables.

• Marinades: The carrot ginger and sweet basil dressings are great for marinating chicken, shrimp, pork, steak, and more.

Whole30 Caesar Salad Dressing

If you love Caesar Salad, you can still enjoy it while on Whole30 by making your own Whole30 Caesar Salad Dressing.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup light tasting oil (Safflower Seed Oil or Avocado Oil; "light" olive oil can also be used)
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (or the juice of 1/2 a lemon)
• 4 flat anchovy filets in olive oil or 2 tsp anchovy paste

Instructions (Immersion Blender Method):

1. Place the oil in a jar in which the circumference of the jar is only slightly larger than the head of the blender.
2. Crack the egg into the oil and let settle into the bottom of the jar.
3. Place head of immersion blender down into the mixture with the blade directly over the yolk of the egg. Turn on the immersion blender and do not move the head until a white, creamy, thick mayo forms at the bottom by the head - this will take a few seconds.
4. Begin to slowly tilt and lift the immersion blender in order to emulsify all the oil, all the way up to the top, then push down and up, with the immersion blender still running, to allow the oil at the top to emulsify as well. You should end up with a thick and creamy mayo base.
5. When all oil is emulsified, add the remaining Caesar dressing ingredients. Use your immersion blender once more to blend it all until it is smooth.
6. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

Instructions (Food Processor Method):

1. If your egg is chilled, place it in a cup of hot or very warm water for 3-5 minutes to bring it to room temp. YOUR EGG MUST BE AT ROOM TEMP OR YOUR MAYO WILL NOT EMULSIFY
2. Place room temp egg, the mustard , the kosher salt, and 1/4 cup of oil in a food processor or blender, blend until well combined.
3. Turn your food processor or blender on and keep that blending as you VERY SLOWLY pour in the remaining 3/4 cup of safflower oil in. When I say slowly pour, just keep a constant flow going as slow as you can possibly go (if you pour too quickly your mayo will not emulsify).

Whole30 Ranch Dressing

This Whole30 ranch dressing recipe is creamy, garlicky, and loaded with fresh herbs.

Key Considerations:

• Use a light-tasting olive oil to avoid a bitter flavor.
• If you have a nut allergy, you can substitute coconut milk for the almond milk.
• Swap out different herbs for the dill and parsley to change things up! Try different spices to liven things up, too.

Immersion Blender Instructions:

1. Dump all ingredients but herbs and almond milk into immersion blender jar or another jar that isn’t much wider than the immersion blender head.
2. Push immersion blender into the jar all the way to the bottom then start to blend, on medium speed first then increasing to high if necessary, until mixture at the bottom becomes thick and opaque.
3. Begin to raise the immersion blender a little at a time then press back down, to incorporate the remaining oil.
4. Once the mixture is entirely emulsified, remove blender and add herbs.
5. Press immersion blender head down over herbs and blend, only enough to chop and incorporate herbs, moving around as needed.
6. Add almond milk as desired to thin.

Addressing Common Concerns

• My mixture is runny: This usually happens because you moved your immersion blender too fast after starting to blend or you use too large of a jar. If this happens, you can salvage your ingredients by transferring half of the “broken” ranch mixture to a properly sized jar and adding in another egg. Stick the immersion blender down to the bottom of the jar and start to blend at medium speed. Once, and not before, you see the mixture turning opaque, thick, and white, you can move the head of the immersion blender up a bit at a time to incorporate and emulsify the remaining liquid. Add half of the reserved broken mixture and blend together, then add the final reserved mixture and blend until thick and smooth.
• I don’t have an immersion blender: You can try a recipe for a Whole30 ranch dressing that is made in the blender or food processor.

Other Whole30 Dressing Ideas

• Healthy Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
• Lemon Ginger Turmeric Dressing
• Strawberry Basil Dressing
• Paleo Ranch Dressing
• Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing
• Apple Cider Vinaigrette (omit honey)
• Turmeric Tahini Dressing

Is Olive Garden dressing Whole30 approved?

No, it is not. There is nothing you can order off the menu without tweaking at Olive Garden that is Whole30 friendly.

Whole30 + Paleo Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano (or 2 tablespoons fresh!)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil (or 1 teaspoon fresh!)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients and store in a glass container in the fridge.

Read also: Plant-Based Diet Guide

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