9 Easy and Healthy Oil-Free Salad Dressings
Salads are a staple for me. As I write this, it’s summer. It’s hot outside. Like, really really hot. It is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day and I just don’t want to turn on my stove. Luckily, my garden is full of greens so I’ve been eating a ton of salad. My quick go-to dressing is a simple homemade lemon tahini dressing but I’ve been wanting to expand my horizons. I tried this Vegan French Dressing on a recent camping trip (it was great!) and I’ll always be a fan of the Primal Kitchen Lemon Turmeric Dressing. However, it’s been hard for me to find oil-free salad dressings. Making them really is the way to go. Here are 9 of my favorite salad dressings. All are oil-free, vegan, and gluten free.
Making your own salad dressings is quite easy. Most can be whipped up in a matter of minutes. They are a quick, affordable, healthy, and delicious alternative to grocery store dressings.
Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing
This Italian Dressing from No Sweat Vegan is rich and creamy, yet oil-free! With cashews and just a handful of pantry ingredients, you can whip up this versatile plant-based dressing in minutes. Perfect for topping salads or roasted potatoes.. You can also thicken it up for a decadent veggie dip.
Avocado Basil Dressing
This Avocado Basil Dressing from The Carrot Underground really has it all. It is creamy, citrusy, and subtly sweet with the perfect herbal balance of basil and richness of avocado.
Savory Garlic Dressing
I love garlic and almonds so it makes sense that I’m a huge fan of this almond based Savory Garlic Dressing from A Plantiful Path. It is quick to make, creamy and full of flavor. While I do love a good cashew based dressing, almonds are a great alternative in this recipe and they add to the unique flavor.
No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing
You really can’t go wrong with a nice balsamic dressing. Most have oil but this Balsamic Dressing Recipe from Cooktoria is oil-free and contains only 3 ingredients. It is both tangy and sweet. You can make it ahead and alter the recipe to your preference, making it perfect for your salads, veggies, and marinades.
Orange Ginger Tahini Dressing
I love tahini and ginger so, of course, I was thrilled to find this Orange Ginger Tahini Dressing from Chelsea Peachtree. This sweet and savory dressing is made with simple ingredients and takes only minutes to make. Naturally vegan and gluten free, it is a delicious topper for salads.
Dairy Free Ranch Dressing
A list of salad dressing recipes just wouldn’t be complete without Ranch Dressing! This Oil Free Ranch Dressing from Vegan in the Freezer is rich, creamy and simple to make. You can use this cashew based vegan ranch dressing recipe on tacos, appetizers, salads, as a dip and so much more.
Nut Free Vegan Ranch Dressing
If one oil-free, vegan ranch dressing recipe is good, TWO are even better. This Ranch Dressing from Zardy Plants is nut free! Creamy, zesty, and traditional in flavor, this Vegan Ranch Dressing is easy to make and free of oils, nuts, and sugar. It’s also packed with plant-based protein and takes just 5 minutes to make in any kind of blender!
Strawberry Vinaigrette
This Oil-Free Strawberry Vinaigrette from A Virtual Vegan really is the ideal summer dressing. It is a lovely balance of sweet and tangy and is perfect on a bed of fresh greens.
Vegan Caesar Dressing
If you are vegan or vegetarian and oil free, finding a good Caesar Salad is not easy. Most are full of oil and fish. This Caesar Dressing from Debra Klein is completely vegan and oil free! The recipe is gluten free (of course) and uses capers for flavor and texture and tahini for creaminess.