Learn how to make the best homemade salad dressing recipes to spruce up your salads and greens. Super delicious and with few ingredients, you’ll find a collection of vegan, low carb and healthy salad dressing recipes to take your healthy eating game to the next level. From raspberry dressing to honey mustard, vegan ranch, cucumber raita and avocado dressing – there’s something special for everyone! 

Five colourful salad dressings arranged in mason jars; three jars at the base and two jars stacked on top.
Each salad dressing jar is a burst of taste, colour, and healthy goodness. Elevate your salads with these delicious creations!

As a dietitian, I completely understand the hurdles many of us face when trying to eat healthier, especially when it comes to getting enough veggies and greens into our meals. I’ve found that the secret to making salads more than just a side dish is discovering the perfect dressings.

That’s where homemade salad dressings come into play.

In my experience, they’re often the missing link, transforming a simple bowl of greens into a flavoursome delight. These dressings are more than just toppings; they’re the delicious touch that brings out the best in every bite.

Whether it’s the abundance of summer’s fresh produce or the heartier winter vegetables, these simple healthy salad dressing recipes effortlessly complement each season, adding a burst of flavour to every salad. Yes, they make healthy eating a pleasure—without compromising on nutrition.

I hope these diabetes diet friendly and heart healthy salad dressings bring as much joy to your meals as they consistently do to mine.

1. Honey mustard dressing

When it comes to versatile salad dressings, honey mustard takes the crown. Its irresistible blend of sweet and tangy flavours adds a delicious punch to any salad, making it a go-to choice for flavor enthusiasts.

Perspective image of a mason jar of honey mustard dressing on a decorative mat with avocados in the bacground.

5-Minute Homemade Honey Mustard Dressing Recipe

In just 5 minutes, with only a handful of ingredients, you'll craft a dressing that harmonizes sweet and tangy notes, turning your greens into a palate-pleasing delight. This is my favourite Homemade Honey Mustard Salad Dressing recipe.
Check out this recipe

Honey mustard dressing pairings

Looking to jazz up your salad game? Honey mustard dressing is the secret to turning those leafy greens into something truly extraordinary. It’s like the perfect partner in crime, bringing out the best in a range of bitter greens, including:

  • Kale
  • Spinach
  • Arugula
  • Watercress
  • Collard
  • Radicchio
  • Dandelion

One of my favourite pairings is using honey mustard dressing in an Oven Roasted Vegetables Salad With Quinoa. The dressing’s zesty sweetness perfectly complements the roasted veggies, while the quinoa adds a delightful texture contrast. It’s a winning combination that adds zest and flavour to your meal.

2. Raspberry salad dressing

A mason jar of red sauce or dressing on a wooden board surrounded by scattered raspberries and flowers.

5-Minute Creamy Raspberry Dressing (No Vinegar)

Up-level your salads and greens by dressing them in this enchanting raspberry dressing! In just 5 minutes, you can whip up a delicious blend of fresh raspberries, vanilla, tart lemon, pepper and olive oil. Heart-healthy and suitable for both a vegan and diabetes-friendly diet.
Check out this recipe

Vegan raspberry dressing pairings

This raspberry dressing is a perfect match for fruit and nut-based salads, especially those with citrus, rhubarb, or apricots. While it’s fantastic with spinach and olives, my top choice? Drizzled generously over my Spicy Chickpea Summer Raspberry Salad. Unlike fat-heavy vinaigrettes, this creamy and tangy dressing complements the salad’s spicy notes flawlessly, elevating each bite with its delightful flavour.

A lavish pour of this fruity dressing atop my zesty chicken salad nestled in a bed of crisp Romaine lettuce—oh, it’s a flavour explosion!

3. Cucumber raita with Greek yogurt

Well, raita is your ultimate cooling companion for Indian or Pakistani main dishes. In its traditional Desi (South Asian) form, raita is a yogurt-based condiment enriched with grated cucumber, fragrant herbs, and spices—typically cumin and coriander. However, my take involves a simple twist by incorporating Greek yogurt and a concise list of ingredients.

A mason jar with a white sauce in it on a decorative place mat.

5-Minute Cucumber Raita With Greek Yogurt

This cooling yogurt-based South Asian recipe, raita, is a delicious side dish or appetizer that can be made in just 5 minutes using a mason jar. It's the perfect addition to Brinjal Curry, Fish Biryani or Tandoori Chicken and provides 6 grams of protein per serving. This yogurt sauce is vegetarian and diabetes friendly.
Check out this recipe

Raita pairing ideas

Picture this: creamy, flavourful raita poured delicately over sizzling pan-fried basa fish fillets, wrapping tantalizing tandoori chicken tikka wraps, or harmonizing with the aromatic notes of my brinjal curry. Tempted?

4. The best ranch dressing

Perspective view of a mason jar of yellow dressing with plant and flowers in the background.

Homemade Creamy Vegan Ranch Dressing

My secret recipe for a homemade vegan ranch dressing that will take your nutritious salads to the next level. Get ready to experience the creaminess and delicious flavours of this dairy-free dressing that will make your taste buds do the happy dance!
Check out this recipe

Ranch dressing pairings

I can’t get enough of this ranch dressing—it’s not just for greens and cucumber; I’ve found it’s a game-changer for potato, chicken, and fish salads. Plus, here’s a secret: it’s got a protein boost from the tofu in the mix! Try it with my Chaat Masala Baked Homemade Fries, Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks, or Corn Chaat Salad With Potatoes—each bite is an explosion of deliciousness!

5. Avocado cilantro lime dressing

Side view of a mason jar filled with the avocado dressing with a bunch of yellow flowers in the background.

5-minute Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing (Creamy!)

Welcome to a burst of flavour in just 5 minutes! If you're looking to elevate your salads, wraps, or veggies, this 5-minute Avocado Cilantro Lime Dressing is about to become your culinary secret weapon. Creamy, tangy, and utterly delightful, this homemade creation will take your taste buds on a delicious journey.
Check out this recipe

Avocado dressing pairings

I’ve found a few mouthwatering recipes that pair beautifully! Personally, I adore using it with my Spicy Chicken Salad, savoring its creamy goodness with Baked Open-Faced Chicken Samosas, or adding that extra zing to my homemade Chicken Patties. Trust me, it’s a flavour party you don’t want to miss

If you give these salad dressing recipes a whirl, I’d love to hear about your experience! Drop a comment, share your rating, or even snap a photo and tag it with #desiliciousrd on Instagram! Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated!

Desi~liciously Yours, Shahzadi

RD Approved Badge - Gut Healthy
A mason jar with a white sauce in it on a decorative place mat.
5 stars (1 review)

Get the Recipe:

5 Simple Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes: Cucumber Raita

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Explore a collection of 5 simple and healthy salad dressing recipes, featuring flavours like Honey Mustard, Raspberry Dressing, Vegan Ranch, refreshing Raita, and zesty Avocado Cilantro Lime. Elevate your salads with these irresistible homemade dressings!

Ingredients
 

  • ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain
  • cup cucumber, grated, including the juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • tsp salt, sea salt, adjust according to taste
  • 1 tbsp mint, fresh, washed, finely chopped

Equipment

  • 1 mason jar small, 250 mL

Instructions
 

  • Add all the ingredients to a 250 mL mason jar.
  • Place the lid and shake the mason jar to incorporate all ingredients. You may need to stir with a spoon to fully mix in the mint and spices.
  • Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

The key to making the perfect raita every time lies in understanding the basics of its preparation and mastering the balance of flavours.
  • Begin with high-quality plain Greek yogurt, preferably Greek or Indian style (thick and creamy).
  • Adding herbs and spices like cumin, coriander, chilli powder, garlic, mint, s,alt and pepper will help create depth of flavour for a savoury version of Raita.
  • For a sweet version adding rosewater or cardamom to the mix makes for an elegant flavour profile.
  • For some extra crunch, fold in a quarter cup of lightly toasted peanuts and two tablespoons of sesame seeds.
  • Raita is best served cold, so it’s important to prepare it in advance so that the ingredients can fully incorporate and marinate.
  • If you are looking for a version that is vegan-friendly, simply switch out the dairy yogurt for coconut or soy.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 42kcal (2%)Carbohydrates: 4g (1%)Protein: 6g (12%)Fat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1g (1%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 3mg (1%)Sodium: 166mg (7%)Potassium: 146mg (4%)Fiber: 1g (4%)Sugar: 2g (2%)Vitamin A: 130IU (3%)Vitamin C: 2mg (2%)Calcium: 70mg (7%)Iron: 0.4mg (2%)

Keep in mind that the nutritional values provided are approximations and suggestions, and might fluctuate depending on ingredient variations, portion sizes, and recipe adjustments. This nutrition facts table cannot account for your individual needs. Your body — including your hunger and satiety cues — change daily. It’s perfectly fine to eat more or less on different days. Instead of letting food guilt take over, consider mindful eating.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cuisine: Indian, pakistani
Course: Side, Snack
Did you make this recipe?Mention @desiliciousrd on Instagram or tag #desiliciousrd.

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