The Secret Sauce(s)

Dressings and sauces can make or break a meal. They either ruin it OR make it taste oh so good but then it comes with the crazy high calories or the crappy ingredients. My goal is to enjoy the food that I am eating so it inspired me to get creative and of course keep it as healthy and clean as possible!

FOUNDATION:

The foundation of all my dressings came from the woman who cooked dinners for me for 20+ years and the best cook I know: my Mom. Being Italian, her go to dressing is pretty simple, so dang good and healthy! Here are the ingredients:

Mom’s OG dressing:

Olive oil

Vinegar of your choice: balsamic, white balsamic, red wine, apple cider etc.

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Sea salt

Black pepper

Oregano

Basil (optional)

BOOM! Literally the best dressing and it’s so easy to make. You can make it in bulk and store it in the fridge or just make it as you eat.

I love this dressing so much but sometimes I need something MORE. I have a hard time eating the same thing over and over. Ya girl has got to mix it up! Here is the secret: This recipe (mom’s OG dressing) is the base of ANY dressing you make from here on out! Some of them don’t need oregano or basil so you can always leave some of the seasonings out! For example:

• Mustard vinaigrette: Add Dijon mustard

• Honey mustard vinaigrette: Add Dijon and raw honey

• Spicy vinaigrette: Add sriracha (or hot sauce of choice) and make it a sriracha vinaigrette!

SO SO EASY! You’re welcome!

CAESAR:

Everyone loves a good Caesar dressing but hates all the calories, dairy and sugar that comes along with it. Don’t worry fam, I got your back. This dressing was created by yours truly and has been a staple. Here is HOW I came up with this keto, paleo or vegan friendly (swapping of one ingredient) Caesar dressing that is going to rock your world.

STEP 1: Look up the ingredients in a traditional Caesar dressing (or any dressing you are trying to make as healthy as possible)

STEP 2: For each ingredient that does NOT work with your style of eating, swap it out with an alternative ingredient!

For example:

Mayo = primal kitchen mayo OR Veganaise (vegan mayo; soy free)

Worcestershire sauce = liquid aminos OR coconut aminos

STEP 3: Once you do your research and find all the alternative ingredients, create your masterpiece! I do not measure anything; I just wing it. The only thing to look at is which ingredient is the base (which will be the most) and then which ingredients will only be complimenting that base. So, you know that in order to make the Caesar, the mayo has to be the most and the Dijon mustard is about a third of the amount of that.

** Use these steps to turn any personal favorite sauce or dressing into a healthy option! **

MY GO-TO CAESAR DRESSING:

Primal kitchen mayo OR Veganaise (for my vegan peeps)

Dijon mustard

Coconut aminos or liquid aminos  

Lemon juice

Pepper

Onion powder

Garlic powder (just a touch)

Sea salt (just a touch)

THAT’S IT! ENJOY!!!

FOR MY SUSHI LOVERS:

Spicy mayo is a weakness of mine when I eat sushi. And of course I have an alternative!

SPICY MAYO:

Mayo base (primal kitchen OR veganaise) 

Sriracha

Lime juice (optional)

I like mine more sriracha-y than mayo-y so I’ll add extra sriracha. You can also add a touch of lime juice but that is optional.

RESTAURANT TIPS:

When you are trying to eat healthy and aren’t in the convenience of your own home, here are some tips. Number 1: Order the dressing on the side. This allows you to control how much you want to use! And no one likes a soggy salad. Number 2: if you are trying to be as clean and low cal as possible, always choose the dressings with a vinegar base. For example: balsamic vinaigrette, mustard vinaigrette etc. Avoid all the white, creamy, sweet stuff. Which brings me to number 3: If you really really want that white, creamy sauce or dressing, use in moderation! Refer back to tip number 1 and get that sauce on da siiiiide. It’s all about balance and moderation. Give and take. Enjoy while still staying on track!

The possibilities are endless! Just takes a little creativity and trial and error! When health is a priority, it’s fun to come up with alternative recipes so you can share them with all your peeps! I hope you enjoy all of these dressings and if you try any and love it, PLEASE SHARE! Much love fam!

Peace&Love