Summer is nearly here which means a bounty of crisp, delicious veggies. While you’ll have to wait for a few more months before Kinghaven’s lettuce is available, we've compiled a list of dreamy, honeyed salad dressings in anticipation.
Honey’s sweetness balances well with acidic and savoury elements, but it’s also a natural sweetener with a lower glycemic index than refined sugars. This makes it a healthier option that won't spike your blood sugar as much.
Similarly, since raw honey is chock-full of probiotics and antioxidants, adding it to natural, whole ingredients and better-for-you fats like olive oil gives you a healthier — and more delicious — salad dressing. Here are some of our favourite simple salad dressing recipes:
1. Honey Mustard Dressing
This super simple honey mustard dressing compliments crisp greens, creamy avocados and a smorgasbord of spring veggies perfectly.
- 1/4 cup premium, raw honey
- 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Combine all ingredients in a jar, shake well, add salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!
2. Honey Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette
This sweet, citrusy dressing is great for elevating taco night, drizzling over a bean medley, or adding to a beautiful summer salad.
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
Combine all ingredients and blend until smooth then season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Creamy Honey Yogurt Dressing
This heartier dressing is amazing on more substantial veggies like broccoli or cucumbers and doubles as a fantastic dip.
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Whisk together yogurt, honey, and vinegar, then gradually whisk in olive oil. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
4. Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette
A classic that’s delicious on just about every kind of salad, this vinaigrette is especially easy to customize to your tastes. As an added bonus, since some nutrients in vegetables need fat to be properly absorbed by the body, salad dressings that contain healthy fats like olive oil can help you absorb more nutrients from your food.
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced (optional)
Whisk together vinegar, honey, and garlic, then slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Honey Garlic Vinaigrette
A riff on a more traditional balsamic vinaigrette, this gorgeous, amber-coloured dressing screams summer.
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Whisk together vinegar, honey, and garlic, then slowly add olive oil, sprinkling the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Honey Ginger Dressing
Bursting with freshness and flavour, this Asian-inspired dressing elevates everything from kale to romaine and pulls double duty as a marinade.
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 cup sesame oil or olive oil
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
7. Honey Lemon Dressing
This zesty lemon vinaigrette adds a burst of flavour to your veggies. It’s delicious as is and can be easily customized to a variety of palates by adding a variety of other ingredients including dill and tahini.
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Whisk together lemon juice, honey, and mustard, then gradually add the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
8. Orange Honey Dressing
This delicious citrus salad dressing is perfectly suited to crisp salad greens, peppery arugula, orange or grapefruit segments, fennel, avocado, pine nuts, pistachios… the list is endless!
- Juice of 1 orange
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Combine orange juice, honey, and mustard, then gradually mix in olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
All of these dressings are easily (and endlessly) customizable and can be stored in the refrigerator for several days, making them perfect for meal prep. Don’t feel you have to limit yourself to salads though. The best salad dressings can also double as marinades for meats, dipping sauces for veggies, or toppings for sandwiches and wraps.
If you prefer to make your salad a complete meal, add some protein and heartiness with grilled chicken, chickpeas, nuts, eggs, tofu, fish, or whatever else you have on hand. Try one tonight to entice the people at your table to eat more greens!