Three 3-Ingredient Salad Dressing Recipes
As you can see, I’m really on a roll with this whole three-ingredient thing.
Today, we’re tackling the tantalizing world of 3-ingredient salad dressing recipes.
From what I’ve gathered, most people don’t cook for themselves because:
A. They don’t know how.
B. They don’t have time.
C. They don’t have the ingredients, and they’re not going waste money buying things like “fennel pollen” that they’re never going to use again.
With three-ingredient recipes though, cooking couldn’t be easier or more time and cost efficient.
In the past, I always used store-bought salad dressing.
As I became more concerned with the actual ingredients in products instead of just the calorie count though, I realized that there aren’t a lot of great healthy salad dressing options. The ones that are truly good for you are usually pretty expensive, have a short shelf-life, and often include ingredients that I already have at home.
Yeah, there’s always oil and vinegar, but how boring is that?
So I started experimenting with making my own.
Here are three of my favorite, 3-ingredient salad dressing recipes and some tasty salads I’ve enjoyed them on recently.
3-Ingredient Creamy Southwest Dressing
Ingredients:
1/4 Avocado
2 T. Salsa
1 T. Greek Yogurt
Squeeze of Lemon (optional)
Directions:
Mash, mix, and plop on your salad.
Total Calories: about 100
This dressing is perfect for anything you would normally put ranch or spicy ranch dressing on. I used it on a spinach and butter lettuce salad topped with sweet potato, ground turkey, and cherry tomatoes. You can switch it up by adding different flavors of salsa, or make it vegan by leaving out the greek yogurt.
A little squeeze of lemon also tastes great, but that would push it out of the three-ingredient category, so I’m forced to make it optional.
3-Ingredient Orange Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients:
1/2 Orange, squeezed
1 T. Balsamic Vinegar
1/2 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Directions:
Squeeze the orange half in a bowl and whisk in the other ingredients.
Total Calories: about 75
I encourage you to use a good olive oil, it will make a difference.
By good I mean: make sure it’s not super old (you’re supposed to replace every 3-6 months) and that it hasn’t been left in the heat (it will be rancid). Opt for a locally produced oil with a “harvest date” to ensure freshness.
You can also try using other fruits to match your salad ingredients. You could puree strawberries or add pineapple juice — the possibilities are endless. Way more exciting than that old two-ingredient staple.
3-Ingredient Light & Zesty Dressing
Ingredients:
1/2 T. Avocado Oil (or Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
1/2 T. Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute
2 T. White Balsamic Vinegar
Pour the ingredients into a little container and shake it, shake it good.
Total Calories: 70
This light, refreshing dressing tastes good on just about anything. I enjoyed it over a bed of lettuce, lentils, edamame, and orange and yellow bell peppers. It was phenomenal.
Don’t hesitate to purchase this 21 Seasoning Salute from Trader Joe’s, I use it on everything. It’s great in pasta, rice, meat, and of course this dressing.
And if you don’t have a Trader Joe’s, I sincerely apologize for teasing you. You can make your own version of this with any spice mix you like.
Weigh In: Do you have any great three ingredient salad dressing to share? If they have four, I’ll let that slide too.
*This post is linked to What I Ate Wednesday and Real Food Wednesday.
Kim says:
Love the southwest and the balsamic recipes – gonna have to try those soon!
Sydney says:
Your Orange Balsamic Dressing sounds so good! What a great fresh and fruity dressing for summer!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
I just bought two new seasonings that you and I are going to need to try out ASAP!!!!!!! I am so pumped – ;) I see them as a great marinade with olive oil… However, we could totally incorporate them into a salad dressing of sorts! ;) I love macadamia nut oil and a little mustard and garlic… Mmmmmm!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says:
Homemade salad dressing is da bomb. I do a garlicky one for my shrimp salads that’s just crushed/diced garlic, olive oil & lemon juice. So yummy! Definitely want to try the southwest ASAP :D
Thanks for sharing!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
These are some of my favorite go-tos too! Salsa on everything. :)
(Bee pollen tastes like ass, btw.)
Bethann Wagner says:
I would walk up hill in the snow to Trader Joe’s – that place is everything! Have to pick up some of your seasoning next time I am there. Man, I feel like they have new (to me) things every time I go!
Arman @ thebigmansworld says:
Love the idea to use salsa/avocado/greek yogurt- It’s like Chipotle topping goodness in one!
I do enjoy a 3 ingredient dressing recipe- peanut butter, sesame oil and sriracha (And maybe abit of milk/water to thin out….)- SO GOOD!
Claudia Rosenbaum says:
These look so good. Come be my personal chef
Karen @ Kama Fitness says:
These are all great, I love quick & easy recipes that contain little ingreds. I usually skip a few ingreds if there’s a recipe I want to try, or change the ingreds totally to make it easier. lol. Whatever works.
Alex @ Kenzie Life says:
These are great, Whitney! I’m definitely going to be trying some out! I haven’t had that TJ’s spice blend before so I’m looking forward to buying some when I get home!