Get the Salt Out (33 page)

208
Utilize the pungent power of garlic in salad dressings.
Garlic is a wonder food, providing plenty of flavor as well as abundant health benefits. In this recipe from
The Healing Power of Foods Cookbook
by Michael T. Murray, N.D., garlic is combined with a variety of fresh and dried herbs to create a delightfully tasty Herb Dressing.
One Salt Shaker.

In a blender, combine all the ingredients and blend thoroughly.
Serves 8 (2 tablespoons per serving).

209
Add a gourmet touch to everyday salad:
use herbed vinegar or herbed oil, either by itself or in combination. (See tips 44, 45, and 46.) When the essence of delightfully fragrant herbs graces every drop of vinegar or oil that you sprinkle, you’ll be amazed at how much less dressing you need to use for flavor.
One Salt Shaker.

210
Also experiment with different kinds of unrefined oils.
When you buy a high-quality oil, the aroma and taste of
the nut, seed, or plant from which the oil is derived should come through loud and strong. If the brand of oil you use is bland and not distinct, no matter whether you buy almond, sesame, or olive oil, you’re probably buying an oil that has been bleached and deodorized. In fact, it may be so processed that it is actually harmful to the body. Switch to using oils labeled “unrefined” in salad dressings and get the healthy fats, vitamin E, and distinctive flavor that you’ve been missing. This recipe from my book
Beyond Pritikin
uses the unique nutty flavor of sesame oil.
One to Two Salt Shakers.

Combine all the ingredients in a covered jar and shake well. Refrigerate.
Serves 8.

211
Try mustard oil,
which is available at East Indian stores and some specialty food markets. Usually used in combination with other ingredients, this pungent oil is a fantastic help for dressing lettuce-or bean-based salads with flavor but no salt.
One Salt Shaker.

212
Don’t forget about garlic oil,
a natural to use on salads. (To make a quick garlic oil, blend garlic with extra-virgin olive oil in a blender.) Combine garlic oil with fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to create an enjoyable and very healthful dressing.
One Salt Shaker.

213
Another salt-free condiment is chili oil,
which you can find in the Oriental section of most health food stores and
upscale supermarkets. Just a splash or two of hot chili oil combined with fresh lime juice makes a wonderful dressing for bean salads.
One Salt Shaker.

214
Salt-free tomato sauce and tomato juice
are two other versatile salad dressing ingredients. By changing the herbs and other ingredients you combine with them, you can create everything from a tomato-basil Italian vinaigrette to a hot and chunky, Mexican salsa-style dressing. Here Harriet Roth, the author of
Deliriously Low,
uses salt-free tomato sauce in combination with yogurt to make a creamy Russian dressing.
One Salt Shaker.