Essential Oils: Salad Dressings & Marinades

Maybe it's because the dog days of summer are truly upon us and it's just too darn hot to even look at the kitchen, let alone actually go and cook in it. 

No thank you.

So lately, I've been eating SO. MANY. SALADS. And I thought it would be the perfect time to share some of my favorite dressing and marinade recipes.

Basic Vinaigrette

• 2/3 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup champagne or wine vinegar
• 2-3 teaspoons sugar or 1-2 drops stevia, to taste
• 1 teaspoon shallots or white onion, finely grated
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1-2 drops wild orange, grapefruit, or invigorating blend essential oils. 

Shake ingredients to mix well, and enjoy.

Creamy Cilantro Dressing

• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 package dry ranch buttermilk, dressing mix
• 2 drops cilantro essential oil
• 6 stalks green onions, sliced
• 4 golden pepperoncini peppers
• 1 drop lime essential oil
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Combine all ingredients in blender and refrigerate. Serve on salads, tortillas, and as a focaccia/herb bread dip.

Strawberry Basil Dressing

• 6 frozen strawberries
• 1 1/2 tablespoons water
• 2 toothpicks basil essential oil, swirled, to taste
• 1 toothpick dip of liquid stevia to sweeten, or more to taste 
• Pinch of salt

Defrost strawberries just enough to soften them for easy blending. Coursely blend. In small bowl add basil essential oil and stevia to water and swirl. Add water mixture and salt to strawberries. Blend well to make one serving. Great on spinach salad in liei or poppy seed dressing or sweet vinaigrette.

Last, but not least, a few tips! 

• Essential oils absorb really well into meats and make great marinades
• When making vinegar dressings, pair ingredients. Balsamic or red wine vinegar or other dark vinegars pairs with raspberry or strawberry salads, beef and lamb. While white wine vinegar, rice, or champagne vinegars and other light vinegars go well with chicken, fish, pears, chunks of grapefruit, mango, or orange. 
• Candied nuts and feta cheese also go really well with both dressings.

Your turn. Do you have a favorite homemade dressing or marinade? Do you use essential oils in your recipes? Share your favorite with me! 

XXOO!