How to Make a Low-Fat Salad Dressing

Published on Sunday, January 22, 2012, by CHOW Video Team / Edit Post

Margo True, food editor at Sunset magazine, shares a tip on how to make a delicious, low-fat salad dressing by swapping out one standard ingredient for a surprising one. (Here's her recipe.)

CHOW Tips are the shared wisdom of our community. If you’ve figured out some piece of food, drink, or cooking wisdom that you’d like to share on video (and you can be in San Francisco), email Blake Smith and tell us what you’ve got in mind.

ALLCHOW Tip
POST A COMMENT |8 Comments

COMMENT

  • Carrot Miso Salad Dressing

    If you like Japanese restaurant miso-dressed salad, you'll love this sparkly, gingery vinaigrette. Toss it with cubed or sliced shredded chicken, frisée, and green onion. Or drizzle it over sliced firm tofu, edamame, and toasted sesame seeds.
    Carrot Miso Salad Dressing

    YIELD: Makes 2/3 cup
    TOTAL:40 Minutes
    COURSE: Salad Dressings

    Ingredients

    3 cups...+READ

    Carrot Miso Salad Dressing

    If you like Japanese restaurant miso-dressed salad, you'll love this sparkly, gingery vinaigrette. Toss it with cubed or sliced shredded chicken, frisée, and green onion. Or drizzle it over sliced firm tofu, edamame, and toasted sesame seeds.
    Carrot Miso Salad Dressing

    YIELD: Makes 2/3 cup
    TOTAL:40 Minutes
    COURSE: Salad Dressings

    Ingredients

    3 cups carrot juice
    1 1/2 teaspoons finely shredded fresh ginger (use a razor-sharp grater, such as a Microplane)
    1 1/2 tablespoons white or red miso
    3 tablespoons rice vinegar
    1/4 cup grapeseed or safflower oil

    Preparation

    Boil carrot juice in a large, wide pot over medium-high heat, stirring often, until reduced to 1/3 cup, 25 to 30 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and let cool. Whisk in ginger, miso, vinegar, and oil.

    Make ahead: Up to 2 weeks, chilled.

    Note: Nutritional analysis is per Tbsp.
    Nutritional Information
    Amount per serving

    Calories: 68
    Calories from fat: 62%
    Protein: 0.8g
    Fat: 4.8g
    Saturated fat: 0.5g
    Carbohydrate: 6.1g
    Fiber: 0.6g
    Sodium: 97mg
    Cholesterol: 0.0mg

    Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Living

    Sunset MARCH 2011-COLLAPSE

  • Even though carotene is very pure source of vit.A, without fat it wouldn't be absorbed from veggies at all. Low fat dressing for salad is unhealthy!

  • I'm another who cannot see this video in my region. Would some kind person post what the recipe was for this video? Or is it just a simple matter of swapping sugar for oil as RRReets mentioned? I think I may try your avocado dressing as well. Yum!

  • I don't get to see the recipe "in my region", for some reason. I always had been relying on the bottled fat free stuff, but recently made a fairly strong oil/vinegar/spice version that I only need a very little of for my salads. I think I'll also try RRReets idea of incorporating avocado for a creamy version.

  • Healthy fat won't make you fat! A reduction of juice will provide you with a processed sugar... I opt for the healthy oil over extra sugar any day.
    Want a creamy healthy fat no sugar dressing?
    Blend some avocado with garlic, seasoned rice wine vinegar and a bit of grape seed oil...yummmmm.
    Or what about good old fashioned 1 part very good quality balsamic 2 parts very good quaiity extra virgin...+READ

    Healthy fat won't make you fat! A reduction of juice will provide you with a processed sugar... I opt for the healthy oil over extra sugar any day.
    Want a creamy healthy fat no sugar dressing?
    Blend some avocado with garlic, seasoned rice wine vinegar and a bit of grape seed oil...yummmmm.
    Or what about good old fashioned 1 part very good quality balsamic 2 parts very good quaiity extra virgin olive oil?
    Variation, add some rough chopped garlic for about 10 mins, fish it out before you whisk and you’ll get a whole different flavour.
    Variation II, add some keens hot mustard that will thicken it up for sure!-COLLAPSE

  • So it had to happen eventually, me signing up to this site. But I so agree with shanemio on this. As long as you do not use a lot of sugar in your dressing you should be fine.

    The other thing is if this is the one area you cut calories then you should reexamine your situation, ie. getting a diet coke with your number 10 on the extra value menu @ Mcdougals.

  • Has anyone tried this? I'm interested in whether it beats bottled low-fat dressings made with gums. We usually make our own (calorie-laden) dressings at home.

  • Sorry, but there is NOTHING wrong with healthy oil. Don't need to and shouldn't reduce it.