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Hey all. I am new to the site, but have read a bunch up here while getting into eating the evolutionary diet. My question is this... are there any commercially available salad dressings that are paleo approved? (and also don't contain EDTA, free glutamic acid, etc). And if not, what do some of you guys make salad dressing out of? Coconut oil? any recipes? I love salad, but I'm getting sick of eating them dry all the time!

Thanks

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+1 for "evolutionary diet." It looked good in your question and probably changed my attitude toward that label. – Nance Jan 10 2012 at 17:44

17 Answers

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Balsalmic vinegar (just a tad), olive oil, minced garlic, cracked black pepper...Mix it up and it's amazing!

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This is exactly what I was going to answer (though I also add a pinch of salt to mine). Cheers! – air_hadoken Jan 10 2012 at 23:12
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I've noticed recently that even buffets are cheating on the oil in the bottle now; the last few have definitely not been olive oil.

I now throw a small bottle of vinegar/olive oil in my purse when I'm going to eat out so I can at least hit the salad bar if the menu's not favorable. The last time I visited a friend's house I also took the o/v because I didn't want to ask her to have them available for me. She knows I "eat weird" so she was fine with it.

And I agree with all those who said you can't trust commercial dressings, even those labeled oil and vinegar.

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Totally, Nance. Restaurants often use an olive oil "blend" instead of pure olive oil. Ugh. It's just not safe to eat outside the house anymore! (only half joking) – Karen P. Jan 10 2012 at 18:43
What kind of bottle do you use when carrying your own o/v? I want to do this, but need to find a small bottle with a tight seal. – Ali Jan 11 2012 at 14:17
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Maybe find a whiskey flask? – Nemesis Jan 11 2012 at 14:52
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Well ... um ... I cheated. My yogurt maker came with a bunch of little jars I don't use for yogurt but they make dandy bottles for cream/honey and oil/vinegar. I'm so ashamed. :-)) – Nance Jan 11 2012 at 15:58
@Nemesis, good idea...but if I'm going to carry around a flask, might as well fill it with whiskey! 8) – Ali Jan 11 2012 at 20:08
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I wouldn't trust the commercial stuff. If I'm at a salad bar, I'll just use red wine vinegar and olive oil

I made up a yogurt dressing (if you're ok with yogurt), but I don't have amounts. The base is yogurt, olive oil and a splash of lemon juice. From there add other seasonings and herbs that you like.

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yeah, I figured there was no good commercial ones. :-( I have to read more about yogurt, as I haven't been using any dairy except butter for pan-cooking. But my favorite dressing is ranch, and yogurt would probably be a good base for concocting a ranch dressing! – Paleo_Pal Jan 10 2012 at 17:08
Even the "olive oil" at salad bars is usually a blend of olive and soy/canola - yuck! – Dave S. Jan 10 2012 at 18:31
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A lot of times I'll use a fresh salsa as a dressing.

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My recipe is 1/2 olive oil, any 1/2 vinegar or lemon, 3-4 cloves raw garlic minced (love my garlic), salt, and pepper...sometimes i'll throw in some dijon mustard to change it up. I don't bother mixing ahead of time just add it to the salad and toss.

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Unfortunately...even the "healthy" salad dressings all have canola oil in them. Believe me I have checked!!!

Try this link http://paleohacks.com/questions/87773/whats-your-choice-salad-dressing-oil/87787#87787

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thanks! Yeah, I spent an hour looking at every salad dressing lable the other day... bad oils, too much sugar, EDTA, food coloring, free glutamic acid... lame. :-( – Paleo_Pal Jan 10 2012 at 17:11
I know. It makes me sad. – BaconHealsChic Jan 10 2012 at 17:26
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Even worse- they stick soy oil in them all the time now because I guess it is cheaper. – henny Jan 10 2012 at 17:28
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Made a salad last night with cubed watermelon and feta cheese- that's all. It was good. – henny Jan 10 2012 at 17:29
Oh yes..I forgot about the soy. Yum on the watermelon and feta. – BaconHealsChic Jan 10 2012 at 17:39
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I make my own, usually a nut oil with some lemon, zest, whatever fresh herb is on hand, maybe shallot, a splot of vinegar. Or just a squeeze of lemon over the greens with a bit of flaky sea salt and fresh ground pepper. You literally can make a dressing out of most anything - its fun to play around. Store bought is kind of for the birds, sorry.. homemade means you get exactly what you want :)

Did you do a key word search on the top right? Loads of recipes and such, should be helpful in addition to what the others have posted. Cheers!

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Guacamole! Or guacamole & salsa.

Yogurt or sour cream with lots of dried seasonings and a touch of honey is quite good too.

With all homemade dressings, mix the leaves to coat, then a bit of salt directly on the greens really rounds out the flavors.

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I like to use bacon grease mixed with a bit of balsamic vinegar for a dressing. Salt & pepper to taste and there ya go :)

Or just scrape the drippings out of the pan and onto some greens and veggies.

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Drippings make an awesome dressing! – Ali Jan 11 2012 at 14:17
Heck yeah they do! :) – Nemesis Jan 11 2012 at 14:52
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Oftentimes, I just use citrus (lemon or lime) with a good olive oil and S&P. If I feel fancy, I add a garlic clove minced up, salted, then smashed with the flat of the knife. One of my faves is champagne vinegar, olive oil, tsp of good mustard, smashed garlic, and S&P. For an Asian flair, try wheat-free tamari, sesame oil, grated ginger, sesame seeds, smashed garlic, and rice wine vinegar. Add wasabi to that for a kick in the mouth.

To spice things up, you can use the juice of any lacto-fermented kraut or veggies as the acid in place of vinegar/citrus. Or the juice from a jar of olives.

Greek yogurt is a great base if you do dairy. Lime juice + yogurt + olive oil + cilantro + S&P is great for Mexican slaw.

Side note: Who knew I had so much to say about salad dressings? Must be the latte talking...

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i make a paleo mayo then if i want a creamy dressing i add water to dilute and some anchovie paste from a tube. the paste is just fish and salt so i figure since its already rotten they dont add preservative to ruin it.

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oil 2 part balsamic 1 part tahini 1 part salt pepper tabasco

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Whole Foods sells Herbes de Provence in Olive Oil salad dressing. Tastes ok.

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Farm Boy in Canada makes their own brand of Greek salad dressing with olive oil and just a few natural ingredients, no additives, no sugar etc. It's very good. So, it's out there, you just have to find it.

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I had an old boyfriend who's mom would always make "house" dressing, which was just sour cream mixed with blue cheese. If you do dairy, I can imagine making this with some high quality sour cream or yogurt and raw blue cheese. It would be a nice treat.

I generally just dump whatever I'm eating on top of the lettuce and mix it all up. I find dressing is rarely necessary.

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I love apple cider vinegar and usually mix that with olive oil and top with random seasonings: salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, garlic, cumin, etc. Whatever matches the rest of the meal.

If I'm eating something juicy, like a burger, I'll just eat the burger while holding it over the salad and let the juices coat the salad. Then I'll eat the salad once I'm done with the burger. (you could also eat them together, but sometimes I like having the burger stand on its own.)

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I've made a great Paleo Ranch Salad Dressing with Coconut milk, olive oil and herbs. So good http://northwestcavegirls.com/2012/03/paleo-ranch-salad-dressing/

Here are a couple other dressings. One is a cilantro dressing and the other is a smokey bear dressing. http://northwestcavegirls.com/2012/03/paleo-ranch-salad-dressing/

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