A big salad can be a healthy meal unless you smother it with an oily dressing. This Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing is just as tasty as store-bought, but it’s made with simple, healthy ingredients.
Why No Oil?
I limit processed oils for a few reasons.
- Most of the folks who have influenced my approach to eating recommend a low-fat plant-based diet – especially for preventing or treating heart disease.
- These same folks, and others, express concerns about the impact processed vegetable and seed oils have on our health.
- While some folks in the health industry tout the benefits of olive oil, I prefer my daily intake of fat come from whole foods. In other words, I’d rather eat the olive than the oil.
Why Homemade?
You have more control over ingredients when you make your own salad dressing. Even organic dressings you find in health food stores may not be as healthy as the label would have you believe. Take a look at the ingredients for a popular organic gluten-free brand of French Dressing:
- Tomato puree
- Expeller pressed soybean oil (See Why No Oils above.)
- Agave nectar (Could be this natural sweetener is even worse than sugar.)
- White vinegar
- Salt
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Xanthan Gum (I’m rethinking my use of this ingredient since a friend discovered a food sensitivity.)
- Garlic powder
- Celery seed
Now, here are the ingredients for my easy Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing:
- Water (No oil necessary!)
- Dates (A much healthier sweetener that’s also full of fiber.)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Tomato paste
- Celery
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Chia seeds (A good alternative to Xanthan Gum.)
- Sea salt
- Garlic powder
Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing
In the spirit of full disclosure I must admit I have a supply of the afore-mentioned store-bought organic gluten-free French dressing in my pantry. My daughter does not care for the quick balsamic mustard dressing I usually make. The guilt and concern I experience every time I watch her smother her salad in the oily dressing is what inspired me to develop this recipe.
I conducted a side-by-side taste test with my daughter. She agreed the flavor of the two dressings is comparable. The Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing has just the right mix of tangy sweetness with a hint of tomato and celery. I envision a bright future with at least one less cause for mother guilt!
Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing
Ingredients
- ¾ cup water
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
- 4 medjool dates pitted
- ½ Tbsp. chopped celery
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. paprika
- ½ tsp. chia seeds
- ¼ tsp. fine sea salt
- ⅛ tsp. granulated garlic or garlic powder
Instructions
- Add ingredients to a high-speed blender in the order they are listed.
- Begin blending on lowest setting and increase speed to highest setting.
- Blend on high for approximately 30 seconds.
- Scrape sides with a spatula and blend again for another 20 seconds or until dressing is smooth.
- Chill in refrigerator before use. Store in a sealed container for up to one week.
Notes
Note: I do not include nutrition information with my recipes because I subscribe to the theories presented in the book Whole and believe we should focus on eating a variety of whole foods instead of counting calories or keeping track of individual nutrients.
Suzy
this sounds interesting...pinning it to try!
Margaret
Thanks Suzy. Let me know how you like it!
Lisa
Just made this replacing the dates with maple syrup as I didn't have any, and the tomato paste with Ketchup. Tasted great! Still a little thin, but I think the chai seeds just need some time in the fridge to thicken it up. I'm very picky when it comes to dressing but this is definitely a keeper! Thanks for developing such a delicious, easy, fat-free vegan dressing!
Margaret
Glad you like it Lisa! Thanks for sharing your experience. The tomato paste and dates add to the thickness of the dressing - so you may need to use a few more chia seeds with the Ketchup and maple syrup. 🙂
Holly
Wow. This was a huge success! I’m new to the vegan (no added oils) lifestyle and I’m so relieved to know there are things like this I can replace my beloved Catalina dressing with! We’ve always used that on taco salad. (If you haven’t tried that it’s really good!) I don’t feel deprived at all and I’m picky so don’t be afraid to try this! So happy! Thank you for such a perfect recipe!
Margaret
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! 🙂
Yvonne
Just made this! Absolutely can't wait to try it on a salad, because it tastes great! Hooray! This is the one! I've given up sugar and processed products as much as possible, and have tried a few salad dressing recipes, but not been impressed until now. Thank you!!!
Margaret
Thank you, Yvonne! Glad you like the recipe. It's one of my favorites. 🙂
Virginia Gross
Love it! Making my second batch tomorrow. Turned out perfectly per your instructions.
Margaret
So glad you like it! 🙂