11. Strawberry Vinaigrette
This strawberry vinaigrette can completely transform the way you eat your salads! It’s simple to prepare, delicious and low in calories. Try it with field greens.
Ingredients:
- 8 ounces frozen strawberries
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Blend strawberries, honey, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper together in a food processor until smooth.
12. Chimichurri Sauce
If you’re after a flavor-booster for meats and fish, this sauce from Argentina is wonderfully garlicky and ideal to serve with beef or chicken.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (packed) fresh Italian parsley
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup (packed) fresh cilantro
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled
- 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
- Puree all ingredients in processor.
- Use immediately or within 2 hours of preparation.
13. Apple Cider Vinaigrette
As its name suggests, this vinaigrette recipe uses apple cider vinegar as its base ingredient. This simple vinaigrette is a brilliant compliment to fresh baby greens, apples, toasted walnuts and a soft, mild cheese.
Ingredients:
- 3⁄4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1⁄4 cup organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground pepper
Instructions:
- Combine vinegar, water, honey, salt and pepper and whisk or blend.
- Drizzle olive oil into the mix and stir until combined.
14. Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing
This vinaigrette is crammed with all the goodness of fresh lemons, oranges, and olive oil and simply bursts with bright, refreshing flavors.
Ingredients:
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- ¼ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- Combine first 6 ingredients in a small jar.
- Season vinaigrette to taste with salt and pepper. Shake to blend.
15. Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
This fantastically quick and deeply flavourful vinaigrette is so easy to make and will be a sure-fire hit with your family. Serve it with an avocado, tomato, cucumber, green onion, and cilantro salad or use it as a sauce on taco night!
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions:
- Stir all the ingredients together and serve.
16. Pesto Sauce
There’s no reason you can’t still enjoy pesto if you’re trying to lose weight. And making it at home will help you cut down on the inflammatory dairy products found in the store-bought stuff. Use it on pasta and as a marinade for meats and vegetable protein.
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup pine nuts
- 2/3 cup olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1/3 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 bunch fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Place the pine nuts in a skillet over medium heat, and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly toasted.
- Gradually mix the pine nuts, olive oil, garlic, nutritional yeast, and basil in a food processor, and process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Store refrigerated for up to a week.
17. Homemade BBQ Sauce
All the BBQ sauces you’ll find at the grocery store are stuffed with sugar, salt, artificial flavors and far too many additives. Make it yourself and you can bypass all of the bad stuff. This irresistible sauce is a must for any summer gathering.
Ingredients:
- 2 jars tomato paste, 5.5 ounces each
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 1 cup red wine vinegar
- 1 cup full-bodied red wine
- 1 tablespoon smoked mild paprika
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard powder
- 2 tablespoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more to taste)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients together in a large saucepan. Set over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
- Reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until thickened to your liking.
- After about 10 minutes of simmering, taste the sauce and if you think it needs more kick, add a bit more cayenne pepper. Then continue simmering for the remaining 5 minutes.
- Let cool, stir in oil, and pour into a bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- This sauce will keep for months in the refrigerator, and it also freezes well
18. Chipotle Vinaigrette
This vinaigrette is almost identical to the one found at Chipotle’s restaurants, but by making it at home, you leave out all the artificial junk often slipped into mass produced condiments. It is delicious served with beans, corn, avocado and any grilled meats.
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- 2 small garlic cloves, roughly chopped
Instructions:
- Combine all of the ingredients in a blender or mini food processor and process until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week or two.
19. Basil Vinaigrette
Not only does basil taste wonderful – earthy and sweet – but it’s considered one of the healthiest herbs around. This vinaigrette is incredible with tomato salad, pasta salad, Panzanella, and grilled fish, chicken or lamb.
Ingredients:
- 1 small garlic clove
- 1 cup packed basil leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
- Pinch of crushed red pepper
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- In a food processor, pulse the garlic until chopped.
- Add the basil and pulse until finely chopped.
- Add the oil, vinegar and crushed red pepper and process until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper.
20. Horseradish Sauce
Made with fresh horseradish this is a delicious, dairy-free sauce that used only a few ingredients. It’s zesty, tangy and peppery – perfect to use on a thick steak!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup grated fresh horseradish (peel horseradish first and remove hard pieces)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup Organic Vegenaise or other non-dairy mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Serve or refrigerate for up to 1 week.
21. Sriracha Sauce
If you really want to make your taste buds sing, this is the sauce to go for. It has clean, fresh and vibrant flavors that will take your meal to another level.
Ingredients:
- 12 ounces Fresno chilies (also called red jalapenos), stems removed and sliced
- 7 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons raw honey
Instructions:
- In a large jar, combine the sliced chilies (and seeds), garlic, kosher salt and cider vinegar. Screw the lid on and give a few little shakes to mix.
- Leave the mixture to sit on the counter overnight.
- The next day, pour the jar contents into a medium saucepan and add the honey.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, stir a few times, then lower heat and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the stove and let cool to room temperature.
- Once cool, pour the mixture into a blender, add oil, and puree until very smooth (this will take a few minutes).
- Pour into a jar and pop it into the fridge, where it will keep for up to one month.
22. Maple Vinaigrette
Don’t knock it till you try it! The flavor of the maple syrup makes for an unusual but incredible tasting dressing and BBQ sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons golden balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Whisk until well combined and thoroughly incorporated.
- Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Place in a jar with a lid and refrigerate for up to two weeks.
By utilizing what you have stashed away in the kitchen cupboard, and by bringing in just a few new ingredients to create these vinaigrette and sauce recipes, you can make your weight loss journey a truly enjoyable, memorable and deeply fulfilling experience.