Favourite Salad Dressings?

[Amber_Baby]

Hey guys, I was just wondering what your favourite dressings for salads were? I have used a brand called Cardinis for both ranch and caesar dressing for a long time. They might be UK only but I recently bought a new ranch dressing - Brianna's home style buttermilk ranch and it is DELICIOUS! According to the label it is made in Texas so I assume it must be available to those of you in the US.

The Cardinis is 0.7g carbs per tablespoon and the Brianna's in 1g so not much in it.

[Ladysilverpatch]

I love both of those, Amber. We have them here.

[svenskamae]

I'm pretty picky about what oils I use, so I end up making my salad dressings from scratch. An easy one is to combine equal parts of olive oil or nut oil and either red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, plus salt to taste (and stir in some mustard, if you like). If you want an Asian-style dressing, use sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, a little minced ginger, and a little toasted sesame oil and tamari.

There may be prepared salad dressings for sale that avoid soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, safflower oil, etc, but I've given up on finding any where I shop, so I just make dressings from scratch, in a screwtop jar that I shake up.

[nolcjunk]

Originally Posted by svenskamae

I'm pretty picky about what oils I use, so I end up making my salad dressings from scratch. An easy one is to combine equal parts of olive oil or nut oil and either red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, plus salt to taste (and stir in some mustard, if you like). If you want an Asian-style dressing, use sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, a little minced ginger, and a little toasted sesame oil and tamari.

There may be prepared salad dressings for sale that avoid soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, safflower oil, etc, but I've given up on finding any where I shop, so I just make dressings from scratch, in a screwtop jar that I shake up.

I agree. I love making my own and finding extra virgin olive oils from different regions and olives. Every salad I make is with evoo, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and celtic or himalayan salt and fresh ground pepper.

I've tried store bought (all kinds) and I hate them because not only the oil/ingredients aren't that great but also they make everything in the salad taste the same, like the dressing, while evoo/lemon just bring out the taste of the vegetables.

[snowmop]

Originally Posted by svenskamae

I'm pretty picky about what oils I use, so I end up making my salad dressings from scratch. An easy one is to combine equal parts of olive oil or nut oil and either red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar or lemon juice, plus salt to taste (and stir in some mustard, if you like). If you want an Asian-style dressing, use sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, a little minced ginger, and a little toasted sesame oil and tamari.

There may be prepared salad dressings for sale that avoid soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil, safflower oil, etc, but I've given up on finding any where I shop, so I just make dressings from scratch, in a screwtop jar that I shake up.

I make my own,too!

[clackley]

I make my own too and like Sven, because of the oils used in store bought. My current fave is `zesty Italian`. It lasts indefinably in the cabinet (no refrigeration needed).

I also make ranch from scratch. Almost too good!!

[rubidoux]

I also make my own bc I want to control what kind of oils I'm eating. Sadly I don't really know what's best in terms of oils. So far I have just stuck to olive oils. I've been using a more refined (not EVOO) for mayo based dressings, but I'm not sure how healthy that is. Any opinions?

I also like to make my own peanut sauce and water it down a bit for a dressing.

[marieze]

I buy the hidden valley ranch packets and whip up a huge batch! 2 packets, 2 cups mayo, 2 cups heavy cream and mix with my immersion blender. When I use a lot, I wake up and have lost weight....love me some fats!!!!

[evas]

Sometimes I buy and sometimes I make my own. When I'm buying it at the grocery store my favorite is Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese. It's refrigerated and they keep it the fresh veggie section at the store. I'm SUPER picky about my blue cheese dressing and this stuff has some seriously awesome flavor. I think it has 2g carbs per 2 tablespoons. Marie's also makes other types of salad dressings but honestly I've never tried them before because I just love the blue cheese too much! I don't really buy any of the types that are in the salad dressing isle (non-refrigerated) because honestly they just have so many chemicals and preservatives in them it makes me nervous. Plus, they ALWAYS seem to be high in sugar, even if it's not a dressing that one expects to be sweet

[muncheechee]

Originally Posted by evas

Sometimes I buy and sometimes I make my own. When I'm buying it at the grocery store my favorite is Marie's Chunky Blue Cheese. It's refrigerated and they keep it the fresh veggie section at the store. I'm SUPER picky about my blue cheese dressing and this stuff has some seriously awesome flavor. I think it has 2g carbs per 2 tablespoons. Marie's also makes other types of salad dressings but honestly I've never tried them before because I just love the blue cheese too much! I don't really buy any of the types that are in the salad dressing isle (non-refrigerated) because honestly they just have so many chemicals and preservatives in them it makes me nervous. Plus, they ALWAYS seem to be high in sugar, even if it's not a dressing that one expects to be sweet

The Marie's brand is my favorite blue cheese dressing ... tastes great and the label claims zero carbs. Their Caesar dressing is good too (not sure on the carb count but I think it's low). I often make our own dressings though because home made is just so good and we don't like bottled ranch.

[wannabethin57]

I love just squeezing lemon on my salads and add evoo and salt.
But I'm going try the ranch that you suggested. ty

[giJ]

Cousin's Creole Tomato. If you like creamy dressings, you'd love it. Unfortunately, I can only get it about half the year, and it lasts about half the year, so I wind up having at least part of the year I can't get it. It's made by a small, family owned company in New Orleans, so it has to be cool enough to ship it for me to order it.

[Dottie]

When I'm bored or just want something simple, I mix 1T mayo, 1-2T vinegar and a drop of sweetener and loads of cracked pepper as a quick dressing.

[Girlieschmoo]

Make my own too because of the oils. Have a 1000 Island recipe that we eat on EVERYTHING! So good. And I make Reuben Casserole with it in the crockpot or oven. Also have a homemade basalmic Italian dressing that is super yummy too.

Going to try that Asian one someone posted and the ranch!

[DiamondDeb]

I have not found any dressings that don't contain things I want to avoid.

I need to make my own salad dressings because of that but I'm usually not very motivated to do that & I end up not having salads.

[NineOhNine]

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

I have not found any dressings that don't contain things I want to avoid.

I need to make my own salad dressings because of that but I'm usually not very motivated to do that & I end up not having salads.

I'm guilty of that, too. I like Marie's--especially Caesar and jalapeno ranch, Bernstein's Cheese Fantastico, and Cardini's Caesar, but I don't buy them often. When I make my own, I like green goddess, ranch, and tomato-bacon. I love, love, love Trader Vic's Javanese dressing, which I hope to recreate one of these days because it's almost impossible to find. If anyone has a recipe for it, I'd be eternally grateful.

[picklepete]

My favorite:
1 tbsp macadamia oil
1/2 tbsp malt vinegar
dab of mustard or miso
dash of Jane's Krazy salt

[lowcarbie]

Originally Posted by marieze

I buy the hidden valley ranch packets and whip up a huge batch! 2 packets, 2 cups mayo, 2 cups heavy cream and mix with my immersion blender. When I use a lot, I wake up and have lost weight....love me some fats!!!!

This sounds delicious, I have to try this, thanks for posting!

[soon]

I bought these dry salad dressings on amazon they were: Napa valley, Italian and Greek. So far I like them all. So when I want dressing/marinade for my cucumbers or leftover asparagus or greenbeans I make up a batch. I am watching my calories.fat and carbs. My dressing is 2 tbsp MCT oil, 4tbsp acv or rice vinegar or coconut vinegar and about 3 tbsp spices I also add 3 tbsp water and shake it up than put my veggies in I also use the same thing on my lettuce salads.

[Strawberry]

I like refrigerated Ranch dressing - either Litehouse or Marie's brand. Unfortunately, they have the bad oils in them, so I've been making my own ranch dressing with greek yogurt and avocado, thinned with buttermilk, to provide the base.

I love Olive Garden dressing, Girards champagne vinaigarette, and also a Trader joe's champagne vinaigarette I recently got. Unfortunately, I also discovered how yummy Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette With Gorgonzola is... "unfortunately" because it has 4g carbs per serving. I also like any sort of golden italian dressing.

[AllisonB]

Originally Posted by Girlieschmoo

Make my own too because of the oils. Have a 1000 Island recipe that we eat on EVERYTHING! So good. And I make Reuben Casserole with it in the crockpot or oven. Also have a homemade basalmic Italian dressing that is super yummy too.

Going to try that Asian one someone posted and the ranch!

Would you share your recipes for your dressing and casserole? I love everything connected with reubens

[socaligirl714]

Originally Posted by marieze

I buy the hidden valley ranch packets and whip up a huge batch! 2 packets, 2 cups mayo, 2 cups heavy cream and mix with my immersion blender. When I use a lot, I wake up and have lost weight....love me some fats!!!!

Never knew u can use hwc

[clare_o]

I love plain old mayo & I also love Waitrose's Creamy Blue Cheese dressing.

Clare

[Cindy-lou]

Great Post...
I love a good oil and vinegar when I go out and the best would be at a Greek restaurant

I have a hard time mixing one at home to taste as good
I have tried several oils and vinegar but it's never as good as the Greek restaurant

[Dottie]

Cindy add a little dried oregano and lemon juice and see if that helps

[Cindy-lou]

thanks I will try that

[healed01]

Renee Might Ceasar; as fresh as store bought goes and LC

[rubidoux]

Originally Posted by Strawberry

Unfortunately, I also discovered how yummy Trader Joe's Champagne Pear Vinaigrette With Gorgonzola is... "unfortunately" because it has 4g carbs per serving.

Isn't that sad! I love that dressing. Sigh...

[zagnut]

My new favorite is Balsamic Tomato Basil Anything dressing by Kraft, but it has 5 carbs per 2 tblsp. (sugar). I'm going to try and make my own this week because the ingredient list is not too nice to look at.
I found some recipes that I think will be close and probably end up tasting better.
My old forever favorite is Ken's blue cheese, I've just wanted to get away from bottled dressings.

[MaryMary]

I love Trader Joe's Goddess (same as Annie's). I also like Toasted sesame oil and ume boshi plum vinegar with Gomasio w/ sea weed.