Dairy-Free Maple Dijon Dressing with a Healthy Dose of Omega-3′s

Alisa Cooks: Alisa Fleming ~ This post was originally written by me for Living Harvest. But since this is one of my favorite dressings, I wanted to share it with you here on Go Dairy Free too! 

From early spring through late fall, getting enough vegetables in the day is the least of my concerns. During the slightly warmer months, my midday meal typically involves many cups of greens in my oversized bowl (technically, it’s a serving bowl), whatever veggies I have on hand (grated carrots, roasted cauliflower, jicama, diced green onions, etc.), and a protein.

And of course, what ginormous salad would be complete without a generous helping of salad dressing? A salad so big, requires a lot of dressing, so I try to keep it as nutritious as possible by making my own at home. Lately, I’ve been adding some Living Harvest Hemp Oil to my homemade blends for:

1. Delicious Opportunity – Hemp oil contains lots of great Omega-3’s, which can be lost if heated. Using it in salad dressings is a great way to enjoy it raw, while adding a wonderfully rich flavor and texture to the dressing.
2. Nutrient Absorption – The fat-free trend is finally fading, and for good reason. Topping my antioxidant packed salads with a non-fat dressing would actually defeat some of the purpose. In a study out of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that dietary fat is necessary for the absorption of nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Yep, it’s true. Adding luxurious hemp oil to an otherwise fat-free salad, will actually increase the amount of phytonutrients and vitamins that you absorb!

I have always been a huge fan of honey mustard, so some version of this type of dressing is pretty much always in the rotation. The recipe below is a slight spin on the traditional … and what I call my “grown up” variation. It uses maple instead of honey, the spicier Dijon instead of plain yellow mustard, and of course, some of that virtuous hemp oil …

Maple Dijon Dressing

Recipe adapted from my personal blog, Alisa Cooks.

• 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard (note that some brands are spicier than others)
• 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, Rice Vinegar, or White Wine Vinegar (each offers a slightly different flavor profile, but each are tasty)
• 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup, or to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Hemp Oil

In a small dish, whisk the mustard, vinegar, maple syrup (start with 1/2 tablespoon). Slowly drizzle in the hemp oil while whisking. It should “catch” and emulsify as you whisk. Once you have a nice smooth dressing, taste, and adjust as desired with additional maple syrup.

Makes one generous and speedy serving

Article, Recipe, and Photos by Alisa Fleming, founder of GoDairyFree.org, blogger at Alisa Cooks, and author of Go Dairy Free: The Guide and Cookbook for Milk Allergies, Lactose Intolerance, and Casein-Free Living. Alisa is also a freelance writer for several publications, with an emphasis on creating recipes for various types of special diets.