It’s no secret that we love salads. If you’ve been here before, you probably know that we’re all about filling 2/3rds of our plate with veggies. Salads are an easy and delicious way to pack a variety of veggies into your (and your kiddos’) meals.
Salads tend to get a bad rap. People often think of them as unsatisfying and lump them in with other undesirable diet foods.
But we’re pretty sure that they’re just missing the right dressing.
There’s nothing like a delicious, creamy dressing to pull a salad together and keep you satiated throughout the day. Salad dressings add flavor and can bring a nutrient-dense punch with herbs and other superfood ingredients.
Our kids are great examples of good salad dressings’ powers of persuasion. Jo’s daughter eats salad just for the dressing! Jules’ kids are salad junkies and love adding avocado to any dressing to make it creamy and decadent.
Whether you and your family are salad lovers or still skeptical, these dressings are sure to please (and maybe even convert) even the pickiest eaters.
All these recipes can be found either right here on our blog, or in our cookbook, The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook. If you don’t already have a copy, you can snag a copy here.
So without further ado, on to the dressings!
Sweet Basil Salad Dressing: A thick and creamy dressing that will add heartiness to any salad and help you feel fuller longer. Plus, it can double as a tasty dip for fresh-cut carrots, cucumbers, or celery. You could even drizzle it over grilled chicken or your favorite gluten-free pasta. In addition to being delicious, this dressing also boasts a number of anti-inflammatory benefits!
*Sunflower Vinaigrette (The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook, pg. 84): A hearty and tangy dressing to complement any salad. It hits the sweet spot between a heavier dressing and a light vinaigrette. This dressing is a crowd-pleaser with its creamy texture and a bright hit of citrus!
Garlic Caesar Dressing: Who doesn’t love a Caesar dressing? This dressing hits all the notes of a dairy-heavy classic Caesar but is made with fresh, plant-based ingredients. It’s simple to throw together but it’ll leave a lasting impression on your friends and family.
*Apple Cider Vinaigrette (The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook, pg. 92): One of our easiest dressings to whip up in a pinch, this vinaigrette’s light flavor and texture let the flavors of your more complex salad recipes truly shine. All you need is five simple ingredients and a blender (or, if you’re blender-less, some vigorous whisking will do the job) to get this one on the table.
Cashew Cilantro Dressing: Here’s one of our favorite go-to vegan, non-dairy, “creams”. This dressing is made by soaking cashews overnight, adding cilantro, lime, and some spices before giving it a whirl in the blender until creamy and smooth. It’s packed with healthy fats and will make your taste buds sing!
Green Garden Dressing: If you’re looking for a filling dressing that’s also as nutrient-dense as a green smoothie, look no further! Our delicious Green Garden Dressing is packed with detox-boosting herbs like cilantro and parsley, both of which are rich in antioxidants and support heart health. This green dressing is rich in flavor (thanks to garlic!) and contains plenty of healthy fats to keep you feeling satiated.
*Carrot Top Pesto (The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook, p. 247): This pesto is a fantastic way to make use of those often ignored — but incredibly nutritious — carrot tops. Carrot tops are not only a great two-for-one deal (buy carrots, get the tops free!), but they’re also high in dietary fiber and rich in several health-boosting minerals. Try our recipe for an extra nutrient-rich pesto with the same zesty, deep flavor you know and love.
