The BEST Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing – This recipe has come about after much trial and error, but this is my absolute favorite dressing for any salad, and it is sugar-free!
So, I’m on a special ‘Lyme’ diet. Self-imposed, mind you.
It seems Lyme doesn’t like sugar, dairy, or gluten. This rings true for me at present, as all of those are currently very inflammatory to my body, save for yogurt. I’m even limiting….grains. Gaw, can you believe it?
I LOVE grains, so I’m not a happy camper right now.
However, if this is what gets me feeling better, so be it.
I hate to admit it, but I do better with a veggie, fat, and meat-focused way of eating, but it can be quite unexciting. Oh, and I have to watch out for oxalates too. Fun, fun.
A salad a day…
I already ate a ton of salad before the last year and a half, but now I’m eating even more! That means, a good dressing recipe is crucial, and this, my friends, is a good dressing.
I am not kidding with that title.
If I didn’t need to rotate my diet for the sake of food allergies, I would eat this dressing every day with every salad.
The tang from the vinegar compliments just about any combination of salad ingredients.
What’s awesome is that my KIDS love this dressing as well! Even my picky son, who doesn’t eat a vegetable easily, asked, yes ASKED me to make him my salad thanks to this delicious dressing!
What’s in it?
You can easily scroll to find the ingredients, but I wanted to tell you a bit why I like each ingredient.
Apple cider vinegar: The tang factor! So, I’ve gone a bit back and forth on this, as I’ve read conflicting information about it. Some say it can contribute to candida and fungal infections, while others tout it as the miracle potion for all ailments. At this point, I’m on the pro side for it, though I do think it’s important not to consume it every day, and I don’t consider it to have any magical powers.
Good olive oil: Richness! I taste test all of the olive oil I buy, meaning I drink a good spoonful. My favorite is probably Bragg’s Olive Oil, but it tends to be a bit pricey. The President’s Reserve Olive Oil from Trader Joe’s is my favorite cheap brand!
Mustard: Flavor and emulsification (AKA, thickness). I love mustard. I eat it like I drink olive oil. My favorite is this Eden brand.
Shallot: Flavor! I know shallot is sort of a specialized ingredient, but it really does contribute that somethin’, somethin’ to this. I’ve tried red onion as a stand in, and it just doesn’t ring my bell the same way.
Garlic: Flavor! I never make a dressing without it, what can I say?!
Italian seasoning: Flavor! If you don’t want the Italian flavor, leave it out. Good pinches of oregano and basil will suffice.
If you’re used to sweet dressings, I don’t know what you’ll think about this. In all my sugar lowering, I really dislike a sweet-tasting dressing anymore. I’m all about that tang!
Just a little FYI for ya. I hope you love it as much as we do if you try it!
Other salad recipes you might enjoy:
The Best Yogurt Ranch Dressing
All-In-One Bowl Salad and Dressing
The BEST Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon-type mustard
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 Tbsp shallot
- 2 garlic cloves
Instructions
- Blend all for about 10-12 seconds. It should be smooth and creamy!
Notes
Notes:
Don’t blend beyond 12 seconds, as you risk ‘breaking’ the emulsification.
The dressing tends to lose some of its creaminess the following days, so it can be re-blended to enhance the effect.
Stephanie says
Thank you for the tip on limiting oxalates! That is something I was unaware of. (Lyme and Mold here 🙂 ) Much love!
Lauren says
Hi Stephanie! Yes, it seems oxalates (which are in EVERYTHING, by the way!) can cause pain for a lot of people. If you’re on FB, there’s a group called Trying Low Oxalates that has a lot of information on it.
Stephanie says
Just requested to join! Thank you, Lauren.