Super Sexy Citrus Salad Dressing
I’ve been on a mint and citrus kick these past few weeks and in the spirit of salad season and beach bods, I figured it would be crazy not to combine the two into a delicious salad dressing.
Why make your own salad dressing?
Whenever I go grocery shopping, I always get tempted by some of the mouth watering salad dressing combinations out there. Unfortunately I always put them back on the shelf when I read that the oils used in many of them are refined, of poor quality and contain trans fats and added sugar (culprits in weight gain and other health problems) and preservatives. It is easier than some of us think to make salad dressings at home. You can choose your own nutritious ingredients and get creative with your flavor combinations at home too. They are cost efficient, you’ll know exactly what ingredients are in the dressing without wondering what “natural flavor” means and you will also taste the freshness sans preservatives! Best of all it will be made by you which means it was made with love.
Mint is a great addition to add a sense of freshness and enhance the flavor of any dish, smoothie or juice (and yes, being patio season.. mojitos too) Not only does mint deliver when it comes to nutrients being high in essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it has other health benefits too. Besides being most commonly used for breath freshness and as a digestive aid it also helps clear blood congestion, acne and helps stop the growth of unwanted bacteria in the body.
Citrus fruits such as lime, which I used in this salad dressing, are also highly beneficial when it comes to glowing skin. That’s because of the vitamin C content – an antioxidant that plays a key role in skin regeneration. The astringent qualities in lime work to keep the tissue in the skin looking toned. Lime also helps speed up digestion which is one of the keys to successful weight loss. Super sexy indeed!
And here’s the recipe.
You will need:
*1/2 cup cold pressed extra virgin olive oil
*1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
*organic mint (as much or as little as you’d like – I put roughly 10 leaves)
*juice from 1 medium sized orange
*juice from 1 1/2 limes
*raw honey to taste
*dijon mustard (as much or as little as you’d like – I used only a few drops)
Place all ingredients into a food processor, blend in a food processor and refrigerate. Store in a glass container and shake well before using. Salad dressing will keep for up to 2 weeks.