4 Ingredient Salad Dressings to Take Your Salads to the Next Level

Thank you Inspired Greens for sponsoring this energizing post and supporting lindsaypleskot.com!

As you’re reading this, we have just landed in Lisbon and are probably making our way to our hotel right about now! We have been so looking forward to this special trip that we planned over Theo’s due date. It has been a road of a lot of ups and downs the past couple of months but I am so grateful to have Meik by my side, and taking this time together to acknowledge, honor, and celebrate our sweet little guy is something we just knew we had to do. We are feeling stronger and more at peace every day (well…most days) and just really trying to trust that this is where we’re meant to be right now and that everything is going to be ok. I would never have wished for this but life has a weird way to teaching you, helping you grow, and forcing you to dig deeper sometimes. So I am trying to take this experience and get to know myself better, listen to the lessons it is offering, and really be in each moment, whatever that brings. Thank you guys for your continued support and love, I really can’t say enough how much it means to us! Each comment and loving word is helping us heal. On that note,  I am going to be taking a little break from the blog for the next couple of weeks to just really be in the moment here and soak it all in. But I wanted to leave you guys with this one today and I look forward to being back here with you all in a couple of weeks! If you have any food recommendations for Portugal, please send them our way!

So how about those salads…I don’t know about you guys, but I tend to be a bit of a fair weather salad person. As soon as the colder months hit, without even realizing it I start throwing my greens into juices, dips, and warm breakfasts instead. I think I get a bit of amnesia when it comes to remembering how flavorful they can be with a good salad dressing and the endless options of different greens to choose from!  

A good fresh salad always hits the spot in hotter months – especially when it’s topped with grilled summer fruit! But by adding roasted veggies or other warm toppings you can make a perfectly satisfying winter salad too. With the weather finally warming up, there’s really no excuse!

After my last visit in Hawaii I was reminded how much I love salads! My sister, Kristi,  has always made the best salads – packed with toppings from crunchy nuts and seeds, salty feta, sweet cranberries, tart cherries, creamy avocado, not to mention the endless options for protein – grilled salmon, buffalo tofu, roasted chickpeas…the combinations really are endless to make a salad that doesn’t suck. Haha.

I think one of the biggest things in keeping me inspired with salads is the dressing! And gone are the days of being fat phobic. We now know how important it is to include good, satisfying sources of fat in our diet – most often from plants. Fat is actually essential for absorbing certain vitamins – A, D, E and K! So making sure to top those salads off with a delicious dressing not only keeps us full and satisfied longer after eating, but also ensure we’re getting the most out of those energizing nutrients packed in there.

I’ve teamed up with my favorite Inspired Greens living lettuce for this one to share four of my go-to simple salad dressings that will take any salad to the next level. If you haven’t seen these lettuces yet they really are almost too pretty to eat! If you have a foodie friend, you might even want to consider bringing them a bouquet of these the next time you’re over for dinner instead of flowers. I’m serious. Haha. For a super quick meal, I love using their multileaf trio. I like to mix a couple of different types of greens into my salads so this bunch makes it super easy, there are 3 different varieties all in the same bunch. All you have to do is chop off the roots and after a quick rinse, those gorgeous greens are ready to eat!

What are your go to salad dressing? Leave a comment for us below so we can try out your faves too!

If you try these out,  I’d love to see them!! Follow me on Instagram @lindsaypleskot and use #makefoodfeelgood so I can see what you’re up to!

Garlicky Green Goddess Dressing

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• Author: Lindsay Pleskot
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 2-3 1x

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Description

A super simple option for a nutritious, creamy salad dressing. Vegan.

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Ingredients

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• 1 avocado
• 1 clove garlic, minced or grated
• Juice of ½ lemon (approx 1 Tbsp)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp warm water
• Coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs – basil, parsley, cilantro *optional

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a high speed blender and pulse on high until super smooth and creamy. Enjoy!

Notes

For a ceasar-ish dressing, add 2-4 tbsp nutritional yeast or Parmesan cheese

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Salads
• Method: Blended
• Cuisine: North American

Keywords: summer, salad dressing, easy

Creamy Greek Dressing

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• Author: Lindsay Pleskot
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 3-4 1x

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Description

I love using Greek yogurt as a creamy, high protein base for salads dressings, sauces, and dips. This Greek dressing comes together in no time and will be a new go to!

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Ingredients

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• ⅓ cup of 2-5% plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp red wine or apple cider vinegar (I prefer red wine for this one!)
• 1–2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tsp Greek seasoning (I use Clubhouse)
• Coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or jar and whisk or shake until all ingredients are well combined. Use immediately or store in the fridge for use throughout the week!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Salads
• Method: Stir
• Cuisine: North American

Keywords: salad dressing, summer, greens

Classic Balsamic Dressing

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• Author: Lindsay Pleskot
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 3-4 1x

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Description

Everyone needs a good classic balsamic vinaigrette. Almost as quick and even better than store bought!

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Ingredients

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• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 ½ tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp sugar to balance out the acid *optional (can also sub with honey or maple syrup, will give a slightly different taste)
• Coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper to taste
• Garlic, minced * optional

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or jar and whisk or shake until all ingredients are well combined. Use immediately or store in the fridge for use throughout the week!

Notes

• For a fruity balsamic vinaigrette, add 2 tbsp of fruit of choice  like raspberries or blueberries and blend or mash with the back of a fork.
• Also delicious with a squeeze of lemon or bit of lemon rind!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Salads
• Method: Stir
• Cuisine: North American

Keywords: salad dressing, summer, easy, greens

Asian Sensation Dressing

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• Author: Lindsay Pleskot
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 3-4 1x

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Description

Another go to vinaigrette, the toasty flavor of sesame oil is the perfect compliment to this asian dressing.

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Ingredients

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• 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (sub for coconut aminos or tamari if gluten free)
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• Coarse salt and freshly-cracked pepper to taste *optional

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or jar and whisk or shake until all ingredients are well combined. Use immediately or store in the fridge for use throughout the week!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Category: Salads
• Method: Stir
• Cuisine: North American

Keywords: salad dressing, greens, antioxidants

xo Lindsay

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