Happy New Year! Before I begin this week’s column, I advise you to purchase a pork butt roast. They are usually on sale right now for under $2 per pound. Get one, wrap it tight and freeze it. It will be featured in my Mardi Gras article for Pulled Pork Poor Boys.
Indulge too much this holiday season and craving some healthy vegetables? One great way to increase vegetable consumption is through a green salad. The wonderful benefits of lettuce, sweet carrots and healthy proteins, such as grilled chicken or cooked dried beans can be negated by one thing: the salad dressing. One can make a wonderful salad only to choose the wrong salad dressing or use too much.
If you have tried lower calorie salad dressings, the flavor can be less than desirable. In many, water is one of the first ingredients. What is a person to do? You want to have the flavor but also reduce the calories. That is where the preparation of your own salad dressing comes in with one secret ingredient: plain yogurt.
On its own, plain yogurt may be an acquired taste for some. When mixed as part of a salad dressing, yogurt’s flavor lends itself well to the rest of the ingredients. Because of yogurts density, it easily substitutes for sour cream. The tang is very similar to the prominent flavor in buttermilk too. If you find your yogurt to be too thin, place a coffee filter or paper towel in a colander and set it inside of a bowl. Place the yogurt on the coffee filter or paper towel and refrigerate. By allowing the whey to drain for a few hours the yogurt will thicken.
I offer four recipes for salad dressing this week. Although the flavors may not be exactly like the full calorie versions, all of them come very close to the originals. The Yogurt Bleu Cheese Dressing has approximately 370 calories for the entire recipe. One serving of regular bleu cheese dressing usually has about that many calories. The Thousand Island Yogurt Dressing has the unique tang and texture of your favorite bottled brand. The Honey Mustard Yogurt Dressing comes close to your favorite, although mine is not as sweet. If you like yours a little sweeter, add a little more honey, but be conscious that there will be more sugar calories added. Finally, for all the “die hard” ranch fans, I am not straying from your favorite. My version of the Hidden Valley Ranch Yogurt Dressing is a lot lower in calories and retains your favorite ranch flavor.
Yogurt Bleu Cheese Dressing
• 1 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 2 Ounces Bleu Cheese
• Salt & Pepper to Taste
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse until well mixed and the bleu cheese is well incorporated.
Step 2: Refrigerate for 1 hour. Can be stored about 3-4 days.
Thousand Island Yogurt Dressing
• 1 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 3 Tablespoons Catsup
• 3 Tablespoons Sweet Relish
• Salt & Pepper to Taste
Step 1: Add the yogurt and catsup to a food processor or blender and pulse until well mixed. Add the sweet relish, salt and pepper. Pulse 2 to 3 times until the relish is distributed.
Step 2: Refrigerate for 1 hour. Can be stored about 3-4 days.
Honey Mustard Yogurt Dressing
• 1 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 3 Tablespoons Yellow Mustard
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• Salt & Pepper to Taste
Step 1: Add all ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse until well mixed.
Step 2: Refrigerate for 1 hour. Can be stored about 3-4 days.
Hidden Valley Ranch Yogurt Dressing
• 1 Cup Plain Yogurt
• 1/2 Package of Hidden Valley Ranch Salad Dressing & Dip Mix
Step 1: Mix salad dressing mix into the yogurt.
Step 2: Refrigerate for 1 hour. Can be stored about 3-4 days.
