Avocado Oil Salad Dressing

Immune-boosting Avocado Oil Salad Dressing (also referred to as Turmeric Salad Dressing) is a healthy salad dressing made with avocado oil, lemon, garlic, turmeric, Dijon mustard and honey. Not only is this avocado oil dressing delicious, it’s rich with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits.

This healthy salad dressing is quick and easy to make and it goes well with a bowl of simple fresh crisp greens and on main salads loaded to the brim with fresh colorful organic produce..

This dressing is light and bright and goes with just about any lettuce you would want to toss it with.

Ingredients for Avocado Oil Salad Dressing

This turmeric salad dressing is a new favorite of mine.  I love the added turmeric in this recipe for the extra nutritional, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.  Sometimes I get a little more generous with the turmeric when making this dressing. 

To make it, just add the ingredients to a mason jar, seal the lid tightly and vigorously shake to blend well.  You can also add the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend, or add the ingredients to a blender and give it a good pulse a few times.

• Avocado Oil – Avocado has a delicious mild flavor. You could also use extra-virgin olive oil if you prefer.
• Lemon Juice – Adds flavor and tang to this dressing.
• Garlic – Adds a lot of flavor and nutritional benefits.
• Honey – Adds a hint of sweetness. You can also use pure maple syrup if you prefer.
• Turmeric – Adds nutritional and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Dijon Mustard – Helps to emulsify the dressing and adds a little flavor.
• Black Pepper – Works with turmeric to help the body assimilate the turmeric.

Find printable recipe with the measurements below.

Variations 

• Add in fresh herbs like chopped parsley, cilantro or basil
• Sprinkle in dried herbs like oregano and Italian herbs
• Add a 1/2 teaspoon of powdered curry or cumin
• Use orange juice instead of lemon juice
• Add grated lemon zest

Avocado Oil vs Olive Oil

• When comparing the flavor of avocado oil and olive oil (avocado oil vs olive oil) – avocado oil tends to be more mild and neutral tasting, making it more versatile oil to use for salad dressings and baking,  whereas olive oil, with its mild peppery and fruity flavor, is best used for cooking savory dishes and bolder tasting salad dressings.  The peppery flavor found in a good quality extra-virgin olive oil comes from a polyphenol antioxidant called oleocanthal. 

Avocado Oil Benefits

• When comparing health benefits of avocado oil and olive oil – when comparing avocado oil vs olive oil – they are both rich with antioxidants and monounsaturated fats (the good kind).  Diets like the Mediterranean diet which is rich with monounsaturated fats are associated with a lower risk of heart disease, lower levels of cholesterol and blood pressure.  Both oils are also rich with vitamin E, which supports eye health.  The monounsaturated fats found in avocado oil and olive oil may potentially help our bodies to better absorb nutrients, especially carotenoids (an antioxidant found in colorful fruits and vegetables).  One study suggest that eating salads dressed with avocado oil increased absorption of the nutrients from the vegetables. (1)  

So if you’re wondering… is avocado oil is good for you, the short answer to that is “yes”.

How to Incorporate More Avocado Oil into Your Diet

Here are a few ways to add more avocado oil to your diet:

• Use it when making vinaigrettes/salad dressings (like this avocado salad dressing)
• Add it to batter when baking (instead of canola or vegetable oil)
• Toss vegetables with it before roasting
• Use it to make pesto
• Saute vegetables with it for when making soups and stews

Avocado Oil for Cooking

• Avocado oil has a high smoke point (it doesn’t burn quickly) compared to olive oil,  so it’s a perfect oil to use when you saute, grill or bake foods.

Benefits of Turmeric 

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color (that’s why this olive oil salad dressing has a vibrant yellow color).

• Powerful anti-inflammatory benefits (2) (3) 
• Rich with antioxidants that neutralizes free radicals
• It increases activity of our body’s antioxidant enzymes
• Increases level of a brain hormone known as BDNF, which may increase the production of new neurons and combats degenerative disease in the brain
• Powerful anti-inflammatory that is more effective to some with rheumatoid arthritis than anti-inflammatory drugs
• May help combat depression

Serving Suggestions

This Avocado Oil Salad Dressing is light and delicious and goes well with just about any salad you’d want to toss with it

• Romaine Salad
• Grilled Chicken Salad
• Celery Salad
• Everyday Tossed Salad
• House Salad
• Superfood Salad
• Spinach Berry Antioxidant Salad

Looking for More Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes to Make?

• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Greek Salad Dressing
• Lime Vinaigrette
• Cleansing Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
• Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette
• Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette
• Avocado Salad Dressing
• Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
• Italian Salad Dressing

Still want more ideas? Check out all my homemade salad dressing recipes.