Growing up, one of my family's staple dinners, was taco salad with Western dressing. For me, taco salad isn't taco salad without this dressing. Shop the salad dressing aisle at the grocery store and what you will find is virtually all commercially made dressing is made with unhealthy ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and soybean oil. You don't have to sacrifice your health for a yummy salad, instead make your own healthy Western dressing.
Why Avoid Soybean Oil
Two specific types of fat, as well as free radicals, prime our body for chronic inflammation. Omega-6 fatty acids and trans-fats stimulate the body's production of inflammation causing chemicals. Omega-6's are found in vegetable oils; soybean oil, corn oil, peanut oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil and safflower oil. Trans-fats are found in products that contain partially hydrogenated oils. Chronic inflammation is a symptom of virtually every disease process. The list of diseases/disorders that involves chronic inflammation is long, from cancer to arthritis to heart disease to Alzheimer's disease.
To read more on inflammation's effect on health and disease check out: The Inflammation Syndrome by Jack Challem
Healthy Homemade Western Dressing
Ingredients
- 2/3 c. High-Oleic Sunflower Oil (see notes)
- 1/3 c. Coconut Vinegar (or white vinegar)
- scant 1/8 tsp. Pure White Stevia Extract Powder (or 1/2 c. sweetener equivalent of choice)
- 2 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Celery Seed
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- 1 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce (read the label look for no HFCS or soy)
- 2 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp. Yellow Prepared Mustard
Directions
Whiz it up in high-powered blender until creamy and delicious!
Notes
You will notice I use “high-oleic” also called “high-heat” sunflower oil in this recipe. High-oleic sunflower oil has little taste, is safe up to an oven temp of 460 degrees F and is a rich source of oleic acid (80+%), the same monounsaturated fat found in olive oil and is very low in inflammatory omega-6.
This recipe has been tested with my preferred ingredients. Please consider, if I recommend a substitution, it will be included as a note in the recipe.
