Easy Salad Dressing Recipes + The Best Store-Bought Options | Zero Acre Farms

Easy Salad Dressing Recipes + The Best Store-Bought Options

May 3, 2023

WRITTEN BY: Courtney Sperlazza

Article at a Glance

• If you've been trying to avoid seed oils in your diet, you might find that the majority of salad dressings contain them, leaving you with limited options.
• There are seed oil-free salad dressing options available, which you can either purchase ready-made from the store or prepare yourself, depending on your preference.
• Label-reading isn’t fun, so here is a list of 18 salad dressing options — 6 store-bought and 12 recipes — so that you can craft the salad of your dreams without worrying about oils that drag you down.

Introduction

As fresh veggies come into season, you might be ready to get creative in the kitchen with crisp, colorful salads. But, how to top them? Most salad dressings are predominantly made with inflammatory seed oils, and if you’ve been moving away from those, you might feel like your options are slim. The good news is, you have seed oil-free salad dressing options that you can pick up from the store ready to go, or make yourself — whichever you prefer.

It’s disheartening to take the time to prepare a meal centered around vegetables, only to find that your typical dressing options might contribute to inflammation and stand in the way of your goals. That’s why we put together this list of dressings that work with your lifestyle, not against it — no matter what you’re craving.

Store-bought Salad Dressings

Primal Kitchen Ranch Dressing

Ranch deserves a spot in every pantry, and just because you’re avoiding seed oils doesn’t mean you have to find a new top-it-all dressing. Primal Kitchen makes an avocado oil-based version that tastes as good as the well-known brands that are full of seed oils. There’s a plant-based version as well, also without seed oils.

Primal Kitchen Caesar Dressing

A crisp, classic caesar salad goes with everything, and it’s even easier to get your salad on the table when the dressing is ready to go. You can pick up regular, or choose the plant-based version of Primal Kitchen Caesar, also seed oil-free.

Newman’s Own

Newman’s Own is a well-known dressing brand and recently rolled out a handful of staple dressings that contain avocado and olive oil instead of seed oils. Seed oil-free versions include their Avocado Oil & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dairy Free Italian Dressing.

Acid League Mango Jalapeño Cilantro Vinaigrette

Acid League is a line of creative vinegars, oils, and other deliciously pourable enhancements. Mango Jalapeño Cilantro Vinaigrette is one of the fun and flavorful dressings in their line, ready to add zing to whatever you toss with it.

Acid League Pink Peppercorn Honey Yuzu

Another dressing variety that you don’t see every day, Pink Peppercorn Honey Yuzu adds a little tang from the vinegar, sweetness from the honey, and a floral bite from the pink peppercorns — all without seed oils.

Noble Made Sriracha Tahini

Tahini levels up any Mediterranean dish, and Noble Made Sriracha Tahini offers a nice kick of heat alongside smooth sesame.

12 Easy Homemade Salad Dressings

Prefer to mix together your own quick DIY seed oil-free dressing? Here are 11 easy homemade salad dressing recipes that you can whisk together in minutes, and add your own flair if you like.

4-Ingredient Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette

• 1/2 cup Zero Acre oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a mason jar and screw on the lid. Shake until well combined.

Classic Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup Zero Acre oil
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic. Slowly whisk in Zero Acre oil. Season with salt and black pepper, and if you prefer your dressing a little sweet, whisk in a little honey.

Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup Zero Acre oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Blend avocado, lime juice, water, Zero Acre oil, and garlic in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper.

Honey Mustard Dressing

• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup Zero Acre oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, and white wine vinegar. Slowly whisk in Zero Acre oil. Season with salt and black pepper.

Lemon Tahini Dressing

• 1/4 cup tahini
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 pinch paprika
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons Zero Acre oil
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, and water. Slowly whisk in Zero Acre oil, and sesame seeds if using. Season with salt and black pepper.

Caesar Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (preferably seed oil-free)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2-3 anchovies, minced (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and anchovies, if using. Season with salt and black pepper.

Ginger Soy Dressing

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup Zero Acre oil
• White pepper to taste

Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, ginger, and garlic. Slowly whisk Zero Acre oil. Season with salt and black pepper.

Ranch Dressing

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise (ideally seed oil-free)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, milk, parsley, chives, and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper.

Spicy Thai-style Peanut Dressing

• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 cup Zero Acre oil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds or crushed peanuts (optional)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic. Slowly whisk in Zero Acre oil. Stir in red pepper flakes and sesame seeds or peanuts, if using. Season with salt and black pepper.

Cilantro Lime Dressing

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup Zero Acre oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together lime juice, Zero Acre oil, honey or syrup, and cilantro. Season with salt and black pepper.

Maple Dijon Dressing

• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup Zero Acre oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Whisk together Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar. Slowly whisk in Zero Acre oil. Season with salt and black pepper.

Extra Thick Herby Avocado Salad Dressing

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh herbs, like dill, parsley, chives
• 1/4 cup Zero Acre oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 2-3 tablespoons water (as needed to thin out the dressing)

In a blender or food processor, combine the avocado, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. Pulse until well blended. With the blender running on low speed, slowly add the oil and continue blending until smooth and creamy.

Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If the dressing is too thick, add 2-3 tablespoons of water to thin it out to your desired consistency.

The Takeaway

Incorporating seed oil-free salad dressings into your meals is a simple and effective way to make your salads healthier and more flavorful. Whether you're looking to cut calories, avoid unhealthy fats, or simply experiment with new tastes, the options listed in this article offer a variety of flavors to level up your salad game. From tangy balsamic vinaigrettes to creamy avocado dressings, there's something to please every palate.