Salads are a super weight loss food … until you put the dressing on top. Most salad dressings are loaded with fat and calories.
But this rich and creamy salad dressing is a much healthier option. Not only is it lower in refined fats, but it contains no cholesterol, and it’s higher in fiber than any salad dressing you’ll find on the supermarket shelf.
With this zippy dressing, there is no need to skimp … Pour it on!
- 2/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup raw cashews or raw, blanched almonds
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder or granulated garlic or 1 clove garlic
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 2 teaspoons onion powder or granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried minced or chopped onion – optional
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- Place water, cashews, lemon juice, and garlic into blender and blend on high speed until very smooth and creamy.
- Add oil and seasonings and blend well.
- Chill.
- Stir before using.
What About Fat-Free Salad Dressings?
Since the oil and fat found in store-bought dressings is … well … fattening, many think they are making a better choice by opting for low-fat or fat-free dressing. Unfortunately, these are not good options either since the ingredients used to replace the fat in these dressings are often unhealthful and may actually encourage weight gain. What’s more, research has found that many of the nutrients in healthy foods, such as vegetables, cannot be absorbed unless the food is accompanied by some fat.
What to eat?! This Creamy Italian Dressing is the perfect solution. : ) It offers naturally healthy, plant-based fats that will actually help with weight loss.
Hate Vegetables?
By the way, this Creamy Italian Salad Dressing is a great tool for making those “yucky” vegetables taste pretty good. Serve it over steamed broccoli, carrots, greens, cabbage, or cauliflower. Creamy Italian Dressing also makes a healthful topping for potatoes.
And pile it on! It’s good for you … and it’s not fattening!
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I am THE pickiest person when it comes to salad dressing and I LOVE this dressing. It is my go-to dressing. I also use it as a sauce on veggies and savory vegan entrees. Thank you so much for this recipe.
Oh my goodness I made this dressing for our salads tonight and it was fantastic! I am picky about salad dressing, and my husband only likes Italian dressing(which I normally do not). This was perfect! We both loved it, as did all 3 of our children(including a super picky 4 y/o). Plus love the fact it’s super healthy! This is a winner, have a feeling it will be in our fridge from now on:)
So glad you and your family liked it, Heather. I love the challenge of getting picky kids to eat healthfully … and love success even more! : )
Thank you for the nice comment.
I made this dressing when I had guests for dinner, and we all loved it. I put a garlic clove in it, so it was kind of garlicky, which everyone liked. It’s great over salad, but as you mention above, it would also be great as a dip for veggies. And it’s so pretty, too!
Glad to hear it was a success : )
We like it best with a clove (or two!) of fresh garlic too.