Delicious dressings encourage even the pickiest keiki to eat whole vegetables and salads. This recipe is made by simply adding the ingredients into a jar and shaking them together. Voilá! It’s fun, engaging and responsible. You can add any additional spices or fresh herbs from the garden.
Why make homemade dressings? It’s more affordable, healthier and tastier! Many store bought dressings contain harmful ingredients. This activity builds measurement and tasting skills.
What’s so awesome about it.
Healthy Fats
Olive oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. This particular kind of monounsaturated fat is called oleic acid, which has been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body. These healthy fats are also responsible for protecting against heart disease by lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and improving integrity of blood vessels. These healthy fats have also been shown to support healthy brain function and possibly reduce the risk of strokes. We LOVE olive oil!
Nutrient Rich
Citrus is known for it’s high vitamin C content but research has also shown that citrus fruit helps lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, supports the vascular system, boosts immunity and fights against bacteria and cancer cells.
Versatility
We love using fresh fruits in our recipes. What’s great about this recipe is it can be added too or adapted to fit what’s in season and available to you. The variations of this dressing are limitless.
This recipe can be left how it is using whatever citrus is available. Or you can mix it up by adding fresh herbs for flavor and complexity, a variety of dried spices to give it a bit of heat, or adding turmeric and ginger to incorporate flavor and immune boosting benefits.
Featured Ingredients
Citrus Family – ‘Ohana ‘Ä€lani
Citrus fruits most likely originated in Southeast Asia. The flavors can be sweet, tart, bitter and acidic. In the past, they were highly prized to prevent scurvy because of their high vitamin C content.
Ka’u is a type of Valencia orange gifted to the Hawaiian ali’i (royalty) in 1792. Ripe citrus (except lemons) can be green outside because of Hawaii’s warm climate. Citrus will not ripen after picking, so don’t pick to early!
PrintSilly Citrus Salad Dressing
- Total Time: 10 minutes
Description
This silly-citrus dressing will surely add lots of bright flavors and healthy nutrients to any salad, vegetable medley, white fish meal, or really anything you want! Homemade dressings are simple, convenient and healthier than most store bought dressings. Just drizzle and enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1/3 C Olive Oil
- 1/3 C Citrus, juiced (Orange, Tangerine, Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit)
- 1/2 T Hawaiian Honey
- Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a jar or blender.
- Shake the jar rapidly or turn blender on high for 30 seconds.
- Drizzle dressing over salad or meal of choice.
Notes
Optional Variation
If available, use fresh liliko’i (passionfruit) juice instead of citrus.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
Aloha! I’m Tiana 🙂 I’m a nutritionist and eco-health educator from the island of Kaua’i. I’m on a lifelong quest to inspire healthier habits and a healthier planet. I created Farm to Keiki in 2010, to bring the Farm to Early Care and Education movement to Hawai’i to improve the health of our children, communities and Earth. After completing my Masters of Science in Nutrition, I published the book, “Farm to Keiki – Cooking, Gardening and Nutrition with Children”. For my 10 year anniversary – I brought Farm to Keiki online! I hope you enjoy this site and pick up a copy of Farm to Keiki to teach to your children! We can create a healthier world… it starts with you!