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    Home » Recipes » Favorites

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free)

    Published: Aug 28, 2015 · Modified: May 20, 2020 by Lauren · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

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    Italian Salad Dressing Pinterest

    I absolutely love salad.

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free)

    Not in a leaf-and-crouton-trying-to-eat-like-a-bird kind of way, but in a way where it stands on its own as a complete meal. I actually have my own little formula for making it just perfect.

    Leafy greens paired with a crisper kind of lettuce, like green or red leaf, is my favorite base, and from there, I just pile on the vegetables!

    Red cabbage, red onion, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, celery, bell peppers, cauliflower, and tomatoes are all excellent additions...pretty much anything you like that tastes good raw.

    Once the veggies are in place, I like to add in a dried fruit and a nut or seed.

    My favorite dried fruits to toss in include raisins, cranberries (washed well if they have sugar added!), or diced prunes. This adds a touch of sweetness to the mix.

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free) 2

    Next in, a crunch factor!

    Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, or walnuts are all well-tolerated favorites with me. They're all great raw, but if I have time, I'll give them a shimmy in a skillet to toast them and bring out a whole new level of flavor.

    I may or may not add in some chopped chicken breast, depending on my need. I've been working out like a madwoman lately, so I've been including it more often, and it definitely makes for a more filling meal.

    Cheese is an optional (but delicious) component. I used to toss in some feta for a nice 'tang', but decided to back off, as I suspected it might have been bothering me. I would love to add in some blue cheese or gorgonzola, but because of their natural mold content, I don't digest them very well. Womp, womp.

    The thing that brings it all together is, of course, the dressing.

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free) 4

    I'm sure you'll all agree that the dressing is what really makes a salad, hence the popularity of ranch, not lettuce.

    Though I vacillate between creamy dressings and vinaigrette types, my personal at-the-moment preference is for the former.

    I created this one day after hunting for a 'healthy', lower fat, creamy Italian dressing on the web. Unable to find anything that didn't require mayo, dairy, or some other expensive 'superfood' ingredient, I embarked on a mission to make my own!

    I've added zucchini to my smoothies before and noticed that they add thickness, so, I thought, why not here?

    Combined with some Italian herbs, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of oil, this has become the daily go-to accompaniment for my favorite lunch.

    Healthy Italian dressing made with zucchini
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free)

    Healthy, lower fat Italian salad dressing made with zucchini.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: Dressing
    Servings: 3 servings
    Calories: 140kcal
    Author: Lauren Goslin

    Ingredients

    • 1 large zucchini
    • 6 T. apple cider vinegar
    • 6 T. water
    • 3 T. extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1 T. dried oregano
    • 3 T. fresh basil or 1 T. dried basil
    • ⅛ t. dried rosemary
    • ¼ t. dried thyme
    • ½ t. sea salt
    • ½ t. black pepper

    Instructions

    • Blend all 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy.
    • Keep refrigerated and shake before each use.

    Notes

    Nutrition facts are based on using fresh basil. WW points (new system): 4

    Nutrition

    Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.8g | Fat: 14.3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12.3g | Sodium: 318mg | Fiber: 1.2g | Sugar: 0.8g

    While creamy, this dressing isn't thick like ranch dressing, so keep that in mind when making it! It has a delicious tang from the vinegar and plenty of flavor from the combination of herbs and spices.

    Zu-Creamy Italian Dressing (Nut-Free, Sugar-Free) 3

    How do you enjoy your salads?

     

     

     

     

     

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    Filed Under: Favorites, Sauces & Dressings

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vana

      May 30, 2018 at 8:20 am

      This is delicious! I tried it with a mixed leaf salad, and I tried it with tomatoes (the tomatoes combination was my favorite). Tne first time I used some chopped fresh basil, the second time I added some fresh mint, both times it was great (I never used the dry herbs). I also tried it with a dash of fresh lemon juice, which was nice too. This is a keeper!!!! Thank you

      Reply
      • Lauren

        May 30, 2018 at 9:34 am

        Thank you for your reviews Vana, I'm so happy you're enjoying this. I make a version of this practically every day!

        Reply
    2. Susan

      August 03, 2017 at 2:46 pm

      This is such a neat idea, what a great way to cut fat and add creaminess!!

      Reply
    3. Sammi

      September 12, 2015 at 5:25 pm

      Lauren, this recipe ROCKS! I am ALWAYS and I mean ALWAYS looking for new ways to use our zucchini harvest. My husband, who is not too adventurous when it comes to salad dressings, even loved it! Thank you for sharing such amazing recipes. They are always delicious!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        September 13, 2015 at 9:54 am

        Oh, that's awesome Sammi! Thanks so much, your comment made me smile so big! 😀

        Reply
    4. [email protected]

      August 31, 2015 at 2:26 pm

      It never dawned on me to make dressing out of zukes. So creative, I need to try this asap. Great job my friend!

      Reply
    5. Peggy

      August 29, 2015 at 5:18 pm

      This is wonderful sounding. How long do you think it lasts in the fridge once you make it?

      Reply
      • Lauren

        August 29, 2015 at 6:24 pm

        Thanks Peggy! I think it will last a week or two, but it doesn't last long here, so I can't say for sure.

        Reply
    6. Stephanie

      August 28, 2015 at 1:51 pm

      I am VERY excited to try this. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Lauren

        August 29, 2015 at 6:23 pm

        Thanks Stephanie, I hope you enjoy it if you try it!

        Reply

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    Hi there, I'm Lauren Goslin, and I've been a food blogger for over ten years. My goal with this blog is to show you healthy, lower sugar recipes that my family and I enjoy.

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