Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing (Oil-Free!)

Admittedly, the photo above is a little heavy on the dressing but I was going for the full effect. :) Plus when you mix it all together it's just the right amount.

Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing is fresh, vibrant, full of flavor and perfect over top of any leafy green you choose, whether it's arugula, spinach, kale, or Romaine. You could also choose a combination of leafy greens — after all, fostering good gut health is all about eating a variety of plant-based foods. With that in mind, add even more plant-powered ingredients to your bowl, like radish, cucumber, legumes, whole grains and herbs for a salad that brings a variety of textures, tastes, and all-around goodness for a nourishing and satisfying meal. Add this whole food dressing over top for a restaurant-worthy dish!

Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing is Easy to Make!

The dressing takes less than 10 minutes to make, includes fiber-filled whole food ingredients, and only requires a blender or a food processor. Make it ahead of time so it's ready to go when you're ready to assemble and eat your salad. Having a dressing on hand is a game changer when it comes to preparing meals quickly and efficiently.

Why This Dressing is So Awesome

If you love the Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing served at Japanese restaurants, you're going to love this gluten-free, oil-free and whole-food based version. It's fresh and vibrant, which is one reason why I love it so much but there are many more reasons:

• It's made with whole food ingredients, meaning it’s oil-free, sugar-free, preservative free and made with whole plant-based foods, which includes all the fiber and phytonutrients, as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals.

• It's packed with carotenoids (plant-based version of vitamin A) from the carrots, supporting skin and eye health, and acting like antioxidants in the body.

• It's made with whole fresh ginger, which has been shown to reduce inflammation, assist with digestion and alleviate pain.

• It contains shallots, which are packed with prebiotic fiber, a type of fiber essential for gut health.

• It contains miso, which has probiotics, or live bacteria, that feed off of the prebiotic fiber, creating a healthy gut.

• It has tahini (ground sesame seeds), a healthy plant-based fat source that supports hormones and absorption of carotenoids.

• It has two grams of fiber per serving (hey, it all counts especially when most dressings have zero fiber and lots of unwanted ingredients.)

• It takes less than 10 minutes to make!
  

Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing (Oil-Free!)

Servings: 4

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: none

Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing (Oil-Free!) Ingredients

• 1 cup roughly chopped carrots

• 1 Tbsp fresh, roughly minced ginger

• 3 Tbsps roughly minced shallots

• 1 Tbsp organic miso (mellow white or chickpea)

• 1 Tbsp tahini

• 2 Tbsps coconut aminos (or reduced sodium tamari)

• 2 Tbsps rice vinegar

• 1/3 - 1/2 cup water (add more if you want a thinner consistency)

Optional: Add 1 tsp maple syrup or date paste to balance out the shallots if you feel it's too pungent.

How to make Carrot Ginger Salad Dressing

Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth (until carrots are blended). Taste for more personal flavors of choice (more ginger for spice, more shallot for pungent, more coconut aminos for umami or saltiness). Store the dressing in an airtight container (great opportunity to reuse a condiment or mason jar!) for 7–10 days.

Did you try this dressing? Please comment below!

If you want more fiber-filled delicious recipes, grab my book, The Fiber Effect: Stop Counting Calories and Start Counting Fiber for Better Health.