Which dressings are perfect for all salads, pasta, meat and fish? The easiest and most delicious homemade sauces – it’s all here. These three recipes for all-purpose dressings are perfect for marinades, meat, and salads. Best of all, these are my favorite sauces that won’t harm your figure and let you glow from within!
Y’all Know I Love a Good Salad (if you’ve read my Story here))… But Finding the Perfect Healthy Dressing? Not So Easy!
Now ladies, raise your hand if you’ve ever spent hours slaving away on a gorgeous salad, only to drown it in a calorie-loaded bottled dressing and feel guilty after. I see you, and I’ve been there too!
Because we all want to eat delicious, very delicious, but also in a way that does not harm our figure. And after 40 we are especially careful about it)). Some even start starving themselves – just to fit into their favorite jeans.
Because when it comes to keeping fit, especially after 40, many people immediately imagine a picture of an unhappy (sometimes even irritated) woman sitting in front of a cake, devouring it with her eyes (after all, in reality she can’t – she’s on a diet). Do you have such a visualization? Or do you imagine it differently?
No – to diets, yes – to vegetables!
I want to say right away that I am against diets and strict restrictions. For me, there are no prohibitions, but there are always healthy alternatives. As all French women know)).
To be slim and healthy, especially after 40, you don’t have to deprive yourself and give up a lot! You just need to incorporate the principles of proper nutrition into your life. And one of them, closely related to my post today, is the 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. I am sure this information will help you radically rethink your diet and make it healthy and right.
Salads: An Easy Gateway
And one of the easiest and most delicious ways to implement the five-a-day principle is through salads. I’ve already written about how much I love them and how often I eat them (every day and sometimes several times a day). And also, what helped me love them so much is the jar salad (just an ingenious find!). This method really taught me how to make my perfect salad! And now I use it all the time (and I recommend it to you, too).
But we all know the best part about salad is the dressing – it makes those veggies sing! So I’ve been on a mission to find dressings that feel indulgent but also keep my glow on fleek. And that are absolutely guilt-free, because they don’t harm my slim figure.
I use these dressings on most of my salads – they are simple, flavorful, and healthy. Most importantly, they are low in calories, which makes them very figure-friendly!
Best Dressings for a Slim You
Let’s dive into three recipes for healthy and tasty dressings that go with almost any salad and many other dishes. They are perfect:
- for pasta
- for meat
- with fish
- for snacks
- for snacks
- for dips
- for salads
- for marinades
They are very popular in my family, and I hope they will be popular with you too.
1. French “Vinaigrette” Dressing
Yes, this dressing is huuuuge in France. You can buy ready-made dressing in the size of 1 liter – that’s how popular it is in their cuisine. And I’ve got to know and love it while living in France – here is my story if you haven’t read it yet .
This dressing is the most versatile and goes with everything.
And it has a very simple formula: 1 part vinegar and 3 parts oil with salt and pepper. But there are so many variations and additions that sometimes you may not recognize this dressing)). I really like this option.
Vinaigrette Dressing Recipe:
- ½ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar (or other vinegar or lemon juice)
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp herbs (Provencal, Italian, oregano…)
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
To make it, just mix all the ingredients in a jar, shaking it well (just don’t forget to put a lid on it first). And then you can store this sauce in the same jar in the refrigerator for up to 5 days (just don’t forget to shake it a bit before consumption).
2. Honey Mustard Dressing
This dressing is not only perfect for salads and baked vegetables (and even meat), but it also works great as a marinade – just marinate fish, poultry, and meat in it and enjoy a tender and exquisite flavor.
The most important thing about this sauce is its simplicity. Easy to remember))) The formula is simple: 1:1:1:1, which means – one part honey, one part mustard, one part vinegar, and one part oil. Well, of course, salt and pepper)). And garlic, for those who want to take care about their health)). And if you like it hotter, cayenne pepper is an excellent choice for this sauce.
I will say that if you take the mustard out of this dressing, you just get a great honey sauce – another favorite of mine that goes with everything!
Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or half with lemon juice)
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- pinch of salt and pepper
Easy to make – just mix all the ingredients in a jar with the lid on. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
3. Garlic Yogurt Dressing
I love this one!!! Not only in salads, but also as a dip (sauce for dipping vegetables) for both raw and baked vegetables (cucumbers, zucchini, green beans, carrots…). It’s a wonderful option for a snack with wine and green beans, for example, or for a healthy snack. You can also use it with pasta, meat and poultry. The possibilities are endless!)))
You can also add cucumber to this dressing, and it becomes a wonderful afternoon snack when you spread it on a piece of bread, for example. I’m sure you know and love it too!
Yogurt Dressing Recipe:
- 1-2 crushed garlic cloves
- 3 tbsp low-fat natural yogurt
- Juice of ⅓ lemon
- ⅓ tsp herbs (Provencal, Italian, Oregano…)
- ⅓ tsp salt
As always, it’s simple – mix all the ingredients together and enjoy the fresh and unique taste.
So, these are my favorite salad dressings in my family. I love them for their taste, their simplicity, and their benefits! And because they allow us to eat lots of vegetables!))
What about you? What are your favorite dressings and sauces? Share the recipe?)) Thanks in advance!
This article and any information contained herein is not intended to provide medical advice, treatment and/or diagnosis. Please consult your physician for any health related questions.
I send you my light!
Sofi