The right dressing can really take your salad to the next level – both in terms of taste and nutrition! After all, without the dressing, a salad is technically just a bowl of plain vegetables. If that’s your thing, more power to you. But if you enjoy a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, a creamy vegan ranch, or a flavorful French dressing, you’re in luck!

Recent studies have found that certain salad dressings also impart important health benefits, in addition to adding flavor. Last summer, a study came out showing that dressings with a moderate fat content actually help you absorb the nutrients from vegetables. So don’t be afraid to add a dash of healthy, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat to your salad in the form of (plant-based) oil or creamy avocado-dressings!

Below are a few great recipe options plus some of our favorite product picks.

Creamy Lemon Herb Dressing

Recipe by Julie West: Blogger, The Simple Veganista
(yield: 5 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup hemp hearts
• juice of 1 medium lemon
• a few strands chives, broken into 1 inch pieces
• a few sprig leaves fresh dill
• a few sprig tops fresh cilantro and/or parsley
• dash or two garlic powder
• dash or two onion powder
• Himalayan salt to taste
• 1/3 cup water, plus more as needed for thinning

Preparation:

Using a blender, combine ingredients and blend until smooth. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency. Taste for flavor adding anything extra to suit your taste…more lemon?…more herbs?…more garlic or onion powder? Chill before serving. Store in an air tight container in refrigerator for up to a week.

More Recipes!

1. Mesquite-Avocado Dressing
2. Creamy Balsamic Dressing
3. Rich Miso Dressing
4. Green Goddess Dressing

See our favorite dressing product picks next…