Citrus and vinegar free salad dressing (citrus and vinegar free options)

I am in great need of a salad dressing recipe that contains no lemon juice nor vinegar (no Bragg's liquid aminos either). Do you have any recipes please? I may need to eat this way for 6 months or more to see if my health condition resolves.

From: Deb.

For lettuce or tomato salads, the best dressing is extra virgin olive oil, pure Mediterranean style. Alternatively, you can use avocado oil as a substitute for olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste and variety in the form of olives, flaked tuna, hard-boiled egg wedges, or cheese -and herbs, of course.

If it is just for the flavor, you can consider using balsamic vinegar as an alternative ingredient for making salad dressings, especially for its sweeter side.

Homemade dressings offer freshness and customization that bottled dressing cannot match. Experiment with flavors and adjust them to your liking for the best results.

Vinegar free Italian dressing

1 clove garlic, peeled
4 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs water
2 anchovy filets, chopped
pinch of salt
pepper
½ tsp oregano

Procedure

Rub the inside of the salad bowl with the garlic. This will add a delicate garlic flavor to your salad and no garlic breath afterwards.

In a bowl, mix water, oil, just a pinch of salt - canned anchovy filets are usually salty- and pepper. Stir vigorously until emulsified.

Add the anchovy filets and mash them with a fork into the oil mix.

Sprinkle the oregano, mix briefly and pour the dressing over the salad.

Cooking Tips

Try this dressing over a salad of roasted vegetables (onion, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers) and slices of mozzarella cheese. Add prosciutto and you'll have a substantial meal.

Use herb scented oil to dress your salad and have flavor without vinegar -dill olive oil for a baked salmon and green leaf salad, basil and oregano oil for grilled chicken and sun-dried tomato salad.

You can prepare your own mayonnaise using yogurt instead of lemon juice or vinegar. You can then use any of the variations.

Check the magic dressings for steamed or boiled potatoes as they can also be used as salad dressings by adding a little liquid, either water, oil, or extra cream. All of them are free from vinegar and citrus, and the exceptions are easily adapted:

• Preparing your own vinegar free mayonnaise for the mayonnaise and basil
• Substitute ketchup with tomato puree and use vinegar free Tabasco for the sesame seed and green chili dressing.

If you cannot have it, prepare your favorite vinaigrette and substitute vinegar with sherry, brandy or port in the same proportion; or substitute 1 tsp vinegar with 1/2 tsp mango powder or 1/2 tamarind paste + 1 tsp water.

If allowed, use brewed lemon herbal tea -an infusion of lemon balm or lemon verbena- instead of lemon juice to prepare your salad dressing, although the flavor is different.

Experiment with pineapple, especially freshly juiced pineapple, suitably acidic and not so sweet as commercial juice, or pomegranate juice.

Check cold salads and dressings for inspiration, although we have added some yogurt based salad dressings to the online recipe collection in answer to your request:

Raita, a yogur based Indian dip,  is can be used as dressing for rice and boiled potato salads.

• Cucumber dill dressing
• Greek garlic dressing
• Honey mustard yogurt dressing
• Jalapeño salad dressing

And some salad recipes with no vinegar or citrus in their dressing:

• Sonoma chicken salad
• Mexican summer salad
• Oriental beef salad
• Three bean salad with rocket dressing.

We hope these recipes help to add some variety to your diet.

Citrus free diet