This cool blog posted a challenge for recipes using garlic and I got totally excited coz I love garlic. Garlic has plenty of amazing health benefits; it’s an anti-oxidant, a powerful anti-coagulant and it contains anti-cancer properties. It also lowers blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels; garlic also boosts the immune system. I read somewhere that it can also kill herpes on contact but whatever, I’m not up for the experiment. Volunteers? Anyone? Kidding. But seriously, you know that creamy garlic salad dressing that I mentioned in my first ever word press post? Well, I figured now is the perfect time to share it. I know, I know, it’s pretty simple and way too easy but whatever, it tastes great and I love it. Even people who can’t really cook (like me) can do it. But that just makes it even more fun! A lot of creamy garlic salad dressing recipes will tell you to use mayonnaise but since I learned to make my own mayo, I never went back to the commercial kind. In this recipe, we’ll actually be skipping the mayo –so it’s kinda like you made your own mayo from scratch as well.
creamy garlic dressing on a bed of fresh lettuce, topped with diced mangoes, grapes and cashew nuts
Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing Recipe made as Meticulously Healthy as Possible
You’ll be needing:
– 4 eggs ( I prefer organic) – use all four egg yolks and only one of the egg whites
-olive oil ( I also use grapeseed oil)
– apple cider vinegar (I use Bragg)
– about 3 tablespoons chopped onion (you may add gradually so you can choose to put more/less depending on your preference)
– raw wild natural honey
– 3/4 teaspoon salt ( I use sea rock salt)
– less than a teaspoon of Dijon mustard (absolutely optional)
– 2 garlic cloves (you can choose to put more/less depending on how strong you want the garlicky kick to be)
*i use the organic type/native type of garlic—you know, the really small ones.. it has a stronger taste that’s why I’m ok with such a small amount
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Seriously. That easy.
Measurements Schmeasurements. It’s your salad. Your dressing. You decide how thick or runny or garlicky or onion-y or sweet it should be.
Here’s the trick though:
1) More egg whites mean a thinner dressing. I like mine super thick so I only use one of the egg whites but if you want something a little more runny, you may use two of the egg whites.
2) Grapeseed oil has a more subtle taste than olive oil. That’s why I prefer combining them instead of using pure olive oil. In fact, you may just use grapeseed oil if you like.
3) You do not put the oil all at once in the blender. You pour the oil gradually, while the eggs and other ingredients are being processed and stop when you think that your dressing has reached the desired consistency. So you see, I can’t possibly dictate which measurements you should follow. In fact, follow your heart taste buds.
4) Be sure to taste your work, don’t settle until you’re satisfied with the amount of garlic or the sweetness. Add as much or as little honey as desired; so you can add it last.
5) Finally, put it on your tossed salad. I like it on a bed of fresh organic lettuce topped with diced mangoes, grapes, and sprinkled with cashew nuts.
4 eggs make 250 ml of really thick dressing and 2 tbsp of thick dressing is more than enough for a lunch bowl of salad good for one. A little goes a long way. 🙂 Keep refrigerated.
P.S. I tried to make the ingredients as healthy as possible but you don’t have to follow it to the letter. You may make use of available ingredients; for example, non-organic eggs or ordinary honey should do just as fine. But I definitely advocate organic. 🙂
if you got any questions, i’ll be more than willing to answer if i can. i understand the recipe isn’t as clean-cut. but i appreciate the beauty of cooking “freestyle” :p
I promise to post a separate recipe for my home-made mayonnaise (and how to lacto ferment it)one of these days
more healthy salad dressing recipes here
The Eclectic Eccentric 