When I think of salad, I think lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, etc. I tend to go for what I thought of as non-traditional dressings like Thousand Island, or Catalina.
But when I started a new diet, I was tired of salad. So what could I eat that would be just as healthy, low calorie, and refreshing, without boring my tastebuds?
I hit the web, and found not only a whole new arena of salads, but low calorie dressings from various countries to liven them up. Here are a few of my personal favorite dressings, along with the salads that work best.
Tahini Dressing
Tahini is the main ingredient in hummus, a popular food in the middle east.
The following recipe is my own variation, tweak the ingredients to suit your tastes.
Needed:
A food processor of some type is best, but you can also mix it by hand.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cold water
2 garlic cloves, chopped or minced
1 cup tahini
2 pinches black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup parsley
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in the food processor and blend until smooth.
If you are using the parsley, add it to the mix and set it on pulse until parsley is chopped, but not blended in.
Let set for 1/2 an hour. Do not refrigerate, unless you want it to thicken.
This dressing tastes great over cucumber slices, for a refreshing cucumber salad.
Asian Salad Dressing
For me, this tastes best over spinach leaves, but it’s also a great twist for a traditional salad mix. Again, this is my own taste, feel free to add or remove amounts.
Equipment:
Food processor or blender
Ingredients:
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/3 cup vinegar (rice vinegar if possible)
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp ginger, ground
1 lime, for juice
1/4 cup cilantro (optional)
Mix everything in the processor until smooth. Add cilantro, pulse until chopped, but not blended in.
Put in a container with a lid. Store in refrigerator.
Greek Dressing
No equipment needed for this dressing. Best with romaine lettuce. Add purple onions, feta cheese, olives or whatever you’d like to the lettuce.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup vinegar (balsamic)
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove, chopped or minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Mix all the ingredients together and toss with the salad.
These are just a few of my favorites. They taste great, and ensure its not the same salad over and over again. Give them a try.
