24-Jun-2012

Dressing Up

Boost Your Salad IQ

Whether you enjoy a simple side plate of lettuce at dinner or a robust “all-in” kind of salad as a main dish for lunch, it’s a well-known fact that fresh, raw greens are an essential component in sustaining good health. To complement and enhance your salad you’ll find a vast variety of bottled dressings in your local market or health food store. If you’re concerned about your sodium and fat intake (and want more creative alternatives), consider making your own dressing.

You can tailor your recipes to include ingredients that make your taste buds zing and leave off those that don’t suit your palate or your nutritional restrictions. If you want to stay clear of oils or dairy, adding nuts (cashews, walnuts or almonds) is a perfect way to create a rich “creamy” flavor; for variety, try tahini, blended avocado or oil-free pesto. Miso paste also makes a tasty base for a creamy oil-free ginger dressing. Throw in your favorite herbs as well and enjoy some new flavor sensations that will have your salads dressed to impress!

Oil-Free Pesto – Blend fresh basil, spinach greens and raw pumpkin seeds with a little water and low-sodium tamari to taste. Makes a yummy dressing for salads, steamed vegetables or whole-wheat pasta.

Food & Flow video: Strawberry Quinoa Salad with Citrus Dressing

Recommended: 100 Great Salad Dressings by Sally Griffith and The Low Fat Raw Vegan Cuisine (DVD)