My Favorite Homemade Salad Dressing-Vegan, oil-free, gluten-free

I'm loving my new favorite salad dressing. I haven't given it a name yet, but it's really tasty, sweet and tangy, and quick and easy to make.

It's amazing how you can make a flavorful delicious salad dressing without using oil- which really cuts back on the calories (if that's a concern). 

I used three ingredients: Dijon mustard, minced white or red minced onions, and a Hoisin Sauce (I used a gluten-free brand). 

The Dijon mustard is tangy, the Hoisin sauce is sweet, and the minced onions are pungent. Together the three create a delicious tasting dressing for salads or vegetables.

 It is simple and easy to make and the low calories and low fat.

I use a small bowl or ramekin, a mini whisk, and make it fresh each time I need salad dressing. However, I have also made a larger quantity and added it to a little Salad dressing bottle. When I make a larger quantity, I can use a blender and add 1/2 teaspoon of water.

Just for the record

Dijon mustard has zero calories and Hoisin sauce has 25 calories per tablespoon as opposed to olive oil which has 120 calories per tablespoon and most people use two tablespoons- at least. Oil really packs on the calories- so I try to be creative and find salad dressings that are oil-free and thus low calories and fat.  Onions pack some healthy antioxidants and are low in calories as well.

For those who are not concerned about calories but still are looking for something that tastes good, this simple but delicious salad dressing won't disappoint. 

Since I make it fresh each time I want to eat it, this recipe only serves one. 

However, you can increase the recipe to serve multiple people-directions at the end of the post for a larger quantity of dressing.  

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons of Hoisin Sauce (check for a gluten-free variety)

1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard 

1 tablespoon of minced white or red onion

Directions: 

Whisk ingredients together until smooth. Drizzle over salad

For multiple people: 

3/4  cup of Hoisin sauce 

2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard (or to taste)

2 tablespoons of minced red or white onion

1 teaspoon of water 

Whisk and add to a pourable bottle or for this larger quantity- or blend in the blender. 

Health and Nutrition Notes:

 

1. My mission on this blog is to encourage/inspire healthier eating by providing suggestions and recipes.  

2. See my time saving (link) tips for prepping salads to save you time and energy if you want to eat a fresh salad everyday.

3. If you doctor agrees, eat at least 9 servings of plant-based foods a day- such as salads, vegetables, whole grains, beans or lentils. Plant-based foods are where you get the greatest amount of fiber to help keep your bowels cleansing regularly from daily ingested toxins, antioxidants to help protect against degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease, and nutrients to nourish the cells. (Did you know that meat, chicken, and fish, contain NO fiber and little or no antioxidants? )

**Studies indicate that antioxidants (which are found in plant-based foods) help protect our bodies against the deleterious effects of free radicals. 

Quotes about antioxidants(which defend) and free radicals (which attack)-

 from a (link) Johns Hopkins Newsletter Article-

1. "Antioxidants are substances that play a role in preventing or at least delaying the effects of cell damage."  

2. "While a young body can produce enough antioxidants to quench free radicals, as the body ages its antioxidant defenses eventually cannot keep up with the constant generation of free radicals."  

3. "Free radicals cause oxidative stress by triggering various types of cell damage that influence cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. "

4.  "Antioxidants, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, can improve health."

4. I like to watch inspiring Youtube Videos that support and give great suggestions for a healthy plant-based lifestyle to increase my consumption of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables and bring my body to a healthy weight naturally. One of my favorite videos are Plantiful-Kiki who is a joy to watch. She has lost and maintained a 70 pound weight loss and totally eliminated her high cholesterol and high triglycerides, pre-diabetes, obesity, hormonal problems and a host of other conditions. She shares suggestions, ideas, and recipes on her Youtube channel. Watch her to the end for the best ideas. 

This post is shared on Weekend Cooking at the Intrepid Reader and Baker  where anyone can share a food related post.

This post is also shared on Souper Sunday where anyone can share a soup, sammie, or salad recipe.