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Oil-Free Salad Dressings: Just as Delicious and Far Slimmer

Oil-Free Salad Dressings: Just as Delicious and Far Slimmer

Still pouring heavy oil over your healthy salad? Discover these oil-free dressings that deliver incredible flavor while slashing calories.

Is Your Salad as Light as You Think?

Salads are a cornerstone for weight loss or plant-based eating. Yet, pitfalls like croutons, cheese, and dressings can load them with calories. Restaurants often enhance salads with extras, making them far less light than they appear.

Read also: 'Easy, peasy:watermelon salad with feta'

A Drop Less Oil, Please

As registered dietitians often advise, scrutinize your dressings to trim calories effortlessly. You're likely accustomed to mayonnaise or olive oil. While olive oil offers healthy fats, it's still fat—two tablespoons pack about 240 calories with minimal vitamins or minerals. The good news: you can craft delicious oil-free versions of classics like vinaigrette and balsamic. For creaminess, turn to tofu, beans, nuts, or avocado.

Classic Balsamic Dressing

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp water
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
  • ¼ tsp dried basil (or other dried herbs)

Preparation

Blend the ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust with salt or pepper as needed.

More oil-free dressings in the June issue of Santé, available now.