Carrot Basil Salad Dressing
by Christine Pittman
Carrot and basil deliciously combine in this creamy, homemade salad dressing. Perfect to top off your favorite salad or to use in wraps, on sandwiches and more!
Nutrition Tip: Although often thought of as orange, carrots can also grow to be white, red, yellow, or even purple! The antioxidants found in these colors support your cells and can protect you from illnesses and chronic diseases.
To Make The Carrot Juice
Carrots are a good source of vitamin A and are a good alternative to ranch dressing. To prepare this carrot basil salad dressing, cut the carrots into thin strips and then blend in a food processor – or if you have a juicer, skip the cutting and juice the carrots directly.
If you don’t want to juice your carrots, you can also buy carrot juice at the store. Carrots are packed with beta-carotene, an antioxidant. This important nutrient supports healthy vision, immunity, and growth. They are also a good source of fiber and contain plenty of potassium.
To get the best fresh carrots, check your local farmer’s market. If you’re going for orange ones you’re looking for a bright orange color with smooth skin and attached greens.
Save some of the carrots for your salad too! Using a vegetable peeler to peel the carrots makes the salad look pretty. Start by removing the outer layer of the carrot, and then peel the rest of it away. Repeat until you have a thick ribbon. You can also peel one section of the carrot several times and rotate it a few times.
Carrot Basil Salad Dressing is a Healthier Dressing
This healthy salad dressing is rich in flavor but significantly less calories per serving than a ranch or other heavy dressing. It’s also free of milk, eggs, and sugar, which makes it a great choice for any salad.
It’s particularly delicious with a blend of spring greens! Fresh lemon juice and the fresh basil give the dressing a nice flavor that is out of this world! And the creaminess of the cream cheese takes it over the top. You seriously will not believe how yummy these ingredients are together.
A simple dressing like this is the perfect way to add bright flavor to your salads. This dressing is easy to prepare and comes together in about 5 minutes. You can use it to top your salads or use it as a dip for vegetables.
To make this dressing a vinaigrette instead, skip the cream cheese and add a little oil and apple cider vinegar to the mix. Apple cider vinegar, a common household ingredient, is a great addition to salad dressings for a variety of reasons. Its acetic acid helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, two major causes of heart disease.
A Fun Idea to Add To Your Dressing – Toasted Sesame Seeds
Toasted sesame seeds add crunch and flavor. Toasted sesame seeds are an excellent addition to many salad dressings. These seeds not only add crunch to your salad, but also add a nice aroma and flavor. These seeds go great with many different kinds of vegetables. They can be used to add flavor to your carrot, cucumber, and bell pepper if you add these to a salad. Toasted sesame seeds help balance the bitterness of leafy greens too.
The fun thing about making salad dressing from scratch is you can mix and match – add and take away and blend flavors finding what works and what doesn’t. You never know what you will come up with in the kitchen!
Carrot Basil Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lowfat cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/2 cup 100% carrot juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Add cream cheese, lemon juice, carrot juice, basil, salt and pepper to a blender. Blend until smooth.
