I’m always looking for ways to make my salads more interesting. I usually just put on the usual lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers and such, and then I always follow it with a boatload of ranch dressing. As much as I love ranch, I realized that I can’t put it on every single salad that I eat, especially since sometimes the amount of dressing that I put on pretty much cancels out the health benefits of the salad.
In order to broaden my dressing horizons and find some new and healthy dressings, I went on a hunt to find new toppings for my salads. I’ve compiled a list of 15 homemade, easy salad dressings for you to enjoy.
1. Tahini Salad Dressing
This recipe is extremely easy, and it only has five ingredients (one of which is water). Tahini is usually found in hummus, but it works beautifully in this salad dressing and adds a great flavor and protein to your salad.
2. Thai Peanut Ginger Carrot Dressing
This recipe is also extremely easy. All you have to do is dump the handful of ingredients into a blender and enjoy.
3. Honey Dijon Salad Dressing
Yet another five-ingredient easy salad dressing to make your life more flavorful. This recipe takes a bit more time to prep just because you have to mince some shallots, but you won’t be sorry about the two extra minutes it took to chop up some shallots when you taste this salad dressing.
4. Curry Coconut Dressing
This is an interesting dressing for when you’re feeling a bit more adventurous. All you have to do for this salad dressing in mix some coconut milk, soy sauce, peanut butter, lime juice, and curry powder in a bowl and then drizzle it over your salad.
5. Citrus Miso Dressing
With this recipe, you can make all the dressing you want and enjoy a sweet citrus-y and miso flavor to any salad.
6. Sriracha Vinaigrette
If you like a salad dressing that has a bit of a kick, I’d suggest this simple vinaigrette. All you need is a bowl, a whisk, and some oils and spices. You can add as much or as little sriracha as you want, depending on your spice tolerance.
7. Paprika Yogurt Dressing
If you want a dressing that’s a bit creamier, you should try this paprika yogurt dressing. The recipe calls for soy yogurt, because it’s a vegan recipe, but if you want you can experiment with different types of yogurt to make the dressing to your liking.
8. Carrot Ginger Dressing
This dressing should be familiar to anyone who frequents Asian restaurants. With this recipe you won’t even have to leave your house to get the taste of this delicious restaurant dressing. All you need are some carrots, ginger, onions, honey, and some oil.
9. Avocado Lime Dressing
Here’s a salad dressing that uses one of my favorite ingredients—avocados! This salad dressing is extremely healthy and easy to make. Your body will thank you for the added nutrients and tangy kick.
10. Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
A classic dressing that you can now make yourself with this recipe and skip the grocery store prices. The recipe only calls for three ingredients (four if you want to add a sweetener to your dressing).
11. Lemon Dressing
If you’re in the mood for a sweet and sour dressing, a lemon dressing will do wonders for your salad. Just add lemon juice, olive oil, and sugar or maple syrup for a light dressing for your salad.
12. Pesto Dressing
Here’s a pesto dressing that provides that basil kick without having to rely on fresh herbs and make a bomb Caprese salad.
13. Five Second Dressing
This is the easiest dressing you’ll ever make in your life. It takes five seconds, and you probably already have a majority of the ingredients in your pantry. It only calls for four ingredients and no prep work.
14. Simple Parmesan Dressing
If you mix some Parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, you’ll have yourself a flavorful dressing to put on top of any salad.
15. Spicy Peanut Salad Dressing
This recipe is described as a dressing for people who don’t like salads. So if you’re in the mood for a dressing with a sweet and kind of nutty flavor that’s reminiscent of Thai food, try out this dressing.
Eating the same old salad over and over gets really boring, really quickly. With this list of easy salad dressings you can switch things up without having to buy fancy ingredients. You’ll love how fresh these dressings make your salads taste. Once you start making your own salad dressings you won’t be able to stop!