I like to whisk the ingredients for this incredibly easy Low-Carb Sweet and Sour Lime Dressing recipe right in the salad bowl and then just put the salad greens on top and toss. If you like, you can put the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake. Print the recipe below:
Serving Size: It only takes a small amount of an oil-based dressing to coat the leaves of a salad. The trick is to put a small amount in a bowl and toss the salad very well. This not only uses less oil, it tastes better when the salad has an even coating of dressing instead of being poured on the top.
Added Sugars: In general, reduced-fat dressings have more sugar than "regular" dressings. Try to find dressings that have zero or one gram of carbohydrate per 2-tablespoon serving, as well as no sugary ingredients, especially in the first four ingredients on the list. Also note that balsamic vinegar tends to have some sugar in it.
Best Oils: Of the easy-to-find and reasonably-priced oils, olive oil is probably the best choice for your salad, at 73% monounsaturated fat and 9% omega-6. It also has other good-for-you nutrients. Also, look carefully for partially hydrogenated fat, which is almost entirely trans-fat.Although most manufacturers have dropped this ingredient in salad dressings, it still appears occasionally -- for example, in Wishbone Blue Cheese Dressing.
Other Ingredients: The shorter the list of "other ingredients," the more natural the product.
The Bottom Line? : Make your own! It is incredibly easy to make your own vinaigrette salad dressing.
- Oil
- Vinegar or lemon juice
- Salt and Pepper
- Optional: Herbs, spices, fruit, other flavorings, mustard (mustard actually helps hold it together so it doesn't separate as easily.)
The ratio of oil to vinegar should be about 3 to 1. Shake it all together in a jar or whisk in a bowl. That's all there is to it.
- Put 1 tablespoon lime juice and 1 teaspoon water in the bottom of a salad bowl or in a jar with a screw top.
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- Seasonings to taste (see note below for link of homemade seasoning blend-super easy to make!)
- Sweetener to taste (I like using liquid sucralose)PREPARATION:
1. Put lime juice and water in bowl. Add sweetener to the tanginess level you want. (I like using liquid sucralose.)
2. Add salt and pepper. Or use a blend, like homemade seasoning salt recipe. Whisk together to dissolve the salt.
3. Whisk in the olive oil.
YIELD: Lime Dressing for 1 Salad
a note about homemade seasoning: Commercial seasoned salt is way overpriced, and there are many recipes for homemade on the Web. I keep a large container (that used to contain the commercial kind) on my counter and often use it instead of salt when I'm cookin. It's a constantly evolving mixture. I usually start with a recipe (example), but double or triple all the ingredients except the salt. I always add some ground chili pepper for some kick, and often mustard powder. As time goes on, I throw in spice mixtures I bought but don't seem to be using, herbs and spices that are getting a bit old, or more garlic or onion powder.
[zrdn-recipe id="15"]
