A salad that contains your favorite ingredients is nothing without a fantastic dressing. Similarly, lead characters are nothing without the supporting cast. With salads, however, one might argue that the dressing can often times steal the show with its diverse flavor profile and dramatic lead performance. Sorry, we just got really caught up in the acting metaphor.
The summer months are nearing, which means that you will likely begin craving lighter meals. These meals don’t have to be salads, but salads provide never-ending possibilities for flavor combinations. Remember that your salads should always differ, and using the same salad ingredients and dressings will force you to avoid them whenever possible.
An amazing dressing can elevate the flavor profile of a salad, transforming it from a boring plate of veggies to your favorite restaurant dish that you keep coming back for. That’s why we assembled a list of our three favorite dressings, which will enhance some of the best summer produce varieties. Each dressing offers a unique flavor, so you don’t have to worry about boring your taste buds. Once you make them, let us know what you think in the comments below.
Tangy Cilantro Lime Dressing
Whether you want to enhance plant-based burrito bowls with black beans, romaine, tomatoes, bell peppers, and wild rice, or give your salad a Mexican flare, this is the dressing you need. The tartness from the lime accentuates the herbaceous cilantro flavor.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cilantro
- juice of 1 lime (you can use two if you love lime juice)
- ½ jalapeno, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon grade A maple syrup
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground mustard seed
- ½ cup filtered water
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- It will stay fresh in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Zesty Cucumber Ranch Dressing
If you weren’t already seduced by the name of this dressing, let us tell you that this dressing or dip is filled with aromatic herbs and spices that keep you coming back bite after bite.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup hemp seeds
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- ¾ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon grade A maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup filtered water
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- It will stay fresh in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Creamy Carrot Ginger Dressing
The bright orange color makes this dressing stand out from the rest. The complex Asian flavors pair beautifully with fresh ingredients, but they can also enhance steamed broccoli, or a give your stir-fry a lil’ somethin’ extra! Just save the cooked foods until your cleanse is over.
Ingredients:
- 2 large carrots, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons raw tahini
- 1 tablespoon raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon grade A maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup filtered water
- 1/3 cup homemade coconut milk (click here for recipe)
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- It will stay fresh in an airtight glass jar in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Note: If you choose not to make the coconut milk or use the suggested ingredients in the dressings, they will no longer be cleanse-approved. We hope you like them!
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
