Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing

This homemade oil-free French dressing recipe is just as tasty as full-fat store-bought, but it’s made with simple, healthy ingredients.

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A big salad can be a healthy meal unless you smother it with an oily dressing.

Why No Oil?

I limit processed oils for a few reasons.

1. 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.
2. These same folks and others express concerns about the impact processed vegetable and seed oils have on our health.
3. While some folks in the health industry tout the benefits of olive oil, I prefer my daily fat intake to 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 in health food stores may not be as healthy as the label would have you believe. Let’s 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 (This natural sweetener might be even worse than sugar.)
• White vinegar
• Salt
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Xanthan Gum (Some people can be sensitive to this ingredient.)
• 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.)
• Himalayan cooking 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 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!

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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Oil-Free French Dressing

This homemade oil-free french dressing is just as tasty as full-fat store-bought, but it’s made with simple, healthy ingredients.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 8

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

The recipe makes approximately one cup of dressing. The serving size is about two tablespoons.

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate for special dietary needs. 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 39kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 113mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg