Homemade Vinaigrette: Sugar Free Italian Dressing
Vinaigrettes are simple, delicious, and great for more flavorful "greens" in your diet.
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Eat More Greens with Sugar Free Italian Dressing
Are you trying to add more green vegetables to your diet? (Like... aren't we ALL?!?) This homemade vinaigrette is a great way to do it.
If you're just (re)starting your healthier habits journey, lots of veg can be a shock to the tastebuds. They're DELICIOUS, but it might take a little time to remember that if you're used to the cheap and dirty sugars in heavily processed foods.
You've seen vegetable platters at parties, right? They're almost always served with a ranch dip. It's like our other favorite Mary used to say, "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!" 🫣
This Sugar Free Italian Dressing will "dress up" your veggies without a ton of sugar. Actually... without ANY sugar.
What's In This Sugar Free Italian Dressing Vinaigrette?
In a creamy dressing, the fat comes from mayo or sour cream or buttermilk. In a vinaigrette, it comes from heart-healthy Olive Oil. The other half of the Italian Dressing duo is red wine vinegar. Vinegar is a near-perfect food fro anyone trying to lower blood sugar because it is ultra-low calories and has no fat, carbs, or sugar. Vinegar has been shown to aid in digestion, regulate blood sugar levels, and even promote weight loss. But we love it most for THE ZING it brings to the table. (badump-bump!)
You'll love the balanced flavors of this dressing - a little tang from the red wine vinegar, some brightness from the lemon juice, satisfying roundness from the olive oil, and a teeny bit of sweetness from Sugar Free Sinless Simple Syrup.
The herbs we chose are fairly traditional - basil, oregano, parmesan, etc. Feel free to play with the spice measurements and choices, though. Make this recipe your own.
Believe it or not, Italian Dressing is best with a hint of sweetness. So, how do we achieve that and still stay sugar free? Sinless Simple Syrup, of course!
Sinless Simple Syrup is the only Sinless Syrup that uses the sugar alcohol erythritol alonside our specialty blend of monk fruit extract and stevia leaf extract. Since Simple Syrup is such a neutral sweetness, the erythritol allows the flavor to come through without any aftertaste. Sugar alcohols can be upsetting to sensitive stomachs, so be careful with your measurements. Unlike traditional simple syrup, Sinless Simple Syrup provides the sweetness you want without any of the sugar you don't.
What Are the Advantages of Homemade Dressing?
The biggest advantage to making food at home is the ability to control the ingredients. Commercial salad dressings might have hidden sugars, unhealthy fats, artificial colors and flavors, plus enough preservatives to keep them shelf stable until the next millenium. By making Sugar Free Italian Dressing at home, you can prioritize freshness, flavor, and nutritional value.
Vinaigrettes like this one are so simple, there's really no reason NOT to make them at home. We make ours in a mason jar so it's easy to shake and store. If you don't have a mason jar, reuse any glass jar with a lid for your homemade dressing! (Glass jars are easy to clean in the dishwasher and can be reused over and over again - saving money and the planet. woohoo!)
Versatile Vinaigrette: How to Use Sugar Free Italian Dressing
In our house, it's always a big hit when the tossed salad is already dressed. If you wash your lettuce right before making a salad, you'll also want to dry the leaves. A clean tea towel or reusable paper towel will do the trick. This prepares the leaves for your dressing. If the leaves are wet, that vinaigrette will roll off them, leaving you with bland lettuce and a puddle of dressing at the bottom of your bowl.
If you're not familiar making large salads for multiple people, start with the less-is-more approach. Add well-shaken Sugar Free Italian Dressing a little at a time. Toss then taste. You can always add more, but if you drown the salad in dressing, it might get soggy.
GREAT ON GRILLED VEGETABLES
Try this Italian Dressing on grilled vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, and eggplant. Toss your favorite vegetables in a bowl with your homemade Italian dressing, let them marinate for at least 30 minutes, then grill them to perfection.
If the weather is poor, use a stove-top griddle or roast a veggie mix in your oven. The key to delicious, cooked vegetables is to not overcook them. There should still be a bit of bite to them, like al dente pasta.
Grilling vegetables with this Sugar Free Italian Dressing means you enjoy that great, smoky flavor from the BBQ and the fresh/tangy flavor from the vinaigrette alongside a beautiful rainbow of vibrant colors. Prepare to eat with your eyes as well as your mouth!
TRY IT ON MEAT TOO
Vinaigrettes aren't just for vegetables. The Sugar Free Italian Dressing can also be used as a marinade for meat or tofu. The acidity of the vinegar helps tenderize the meat or tofu while adding a burst of flavor that complements the smokiness of the grill.
This is a great flavor boost for chicken, especially. If you have busy weekday evenings, marinate and cook a batch of chicken breasts, thighs, tenderloins, or drummies on Sunday to use all week. Save a bit of the dressing to add as you're reheating, too!
Next time you're craving a salad, skip the store-bought dressing and shake up a batch of Sugar Free Italian Dressing. We think you'll love it.
