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    Home » Recipes » Sauces & Condiments

    Oil-Free Salad Dressing

    Published: Jun 16, 2023 · Modified: May 7, 2025 by Romy · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Are you searching for a salad dressing recipe that is both healthy and delicious, and also oil-free? You may have just found your new favorite salad dressing! If you're looking to incorporate more whole foods into your meals, this oil-free salad dressing recipe is a great way to start! With simple, wholesome ingredients like lemon juice and fresh herbs, it's a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal.

    The dressing is easy to make and ready in a minute or less - leaving you enough time to prepare a next-level salad! It’s also perfect for tossing with your favorite greens, drizzling over buddha bowls and even for dipping your fresh veggies.

    An open glass bottle with a narrow neck and a black label reading 'salad dressing' is sitting on a table surrounded by fresh herbs. The black lid for the bottle is leaning against the side.
    Jump to:
    • Why choose oil-free dressings for your salad?
    • 🌱 Ingredients & Notes
    • 🔪 Equipment
    • 🧑‍🍳 Instructions (Step-by-Step)
    • 🍽️ Serving
    • ❄️ Storage
    • 💡 Expert Tips & Tricks
    • 🔜 Related Recipes
    • 📝 Recipe
    • 📖 Recipe Card

    This recipe is a great alternative to store-bought salad dressings that are often oil-based, as it's both flavorful and easy to make in just a few steps. Plus, this homemade salad dressing uses only a few simple ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery store. You can also store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, so you can prepare the dressing ahead of time and enjoy it throughout the week.

    Try drizzling it over this Roasted Cabbage and Lentil Salad or serve alongside crunchy garlic & herb croutons and homemade vegan feta for an extra boost of flavor and texture!

    ❤️ What's Great About this Recipe

    • It's vegan!
    • The dressing is oil-free, making it a healthier alternative to traditional oil-based dressings.
    • It features a zesty combination of lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup, along with optional fresh herbs for added flavor.
    • The dressing is so easy to make and perfect for tossing with your favorite salads and vegetables!
    • It uses only 3 ingredients for the base and all of the ingredients are simple and easy to find.
    • The dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 4-5 days, allowing you to enjoy it throughout the week.

    Why choose oil-free dressings for your salad?

    An oil free salad dressing is a great option for those looking to reduce their intake of added fats and calories - whether it's down to personal choice or any chronic diseases that might require this lifestyle change.

    Oil is a common ingredient in many salad dressings, but it's not always the healthiest choice, as it is the most calorie-dense food and often also highly processed and refined. Traditional salad dressings are often high in oil, which can contribute to specific health issues. Oil-free dressings, on the other hand, are made with ingredients such as like lemon juice, and mustard, which provide flavor without the added fat and are therefore also a main ingredient in this oil free recipe.

    In addition, commercial salad dressings are often also full of preservatives and flavor enhancers, so making my own salad dressing at home is one of my favorite ways to live a little healthier.

    🌱 Ingredients & Notes

    Here is everything you need for this recipe:

    The ingredients for a simple oil free dressing are sitting on a white table. Small measured jugs with lemon juice, Dijon mustard and maple syrup are sitting on a round wooden board and a handful of fresh herbs are arranged besides it.
    • Lemon juice - for a tangy flavor and the perfect acidity in the dressing. You can use either store-bought or freshly squeezed lemon juice.
    • Mustard - I use Dijon mustard to add a rich flavor. It also acts as an emulsifier to help the ingredients come together.
    • Maple syrup - to add a hint of sweetness and balance the tartness of the lemon juice.
    • Fresh herbs - these are optional but these add a wonderful freshness to the salad dressing. I use a mix of fresh dill, parsley and basil. You can use any herbs you like, or omit them altogether.

    Jump to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for detailed quantities and measurements.

    Tips for Ingredient Substitutions

    In case you don't have everything to hand, here a few options for possible substitutions:

    • Lemon juice - lime juice, white vinegar such as white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
    • Dijon mustard - whole grain mustard, spicy brown mustard
    • Maple syrup - agave nectar, stevia or date syrup
    • Fresh herbs - use dried herbs, such as oregano or thyme, or omit altogether

    🔪 Equipment

    For the recipe you only need a small jar, e.g. a mason jar with a lid, or a blender/food processor if you decide to add fresh herbs.

    🧑‍🍳 Instructions (Step-by-Step)

    If you are making the dressing without herbs, simply combine all ingredients in a jar and shake it to blend everything together. If you like to add fresh herbs, using a small blender or food processor is the best way:

    All ingredients for a simple oil free salad dressing are sitting together in a small blender bowl before blending. The fresh herbs, lemon juice and mustard can be seen clearly.

    Step 1 - Measure the lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup and herbs into a blender.

    A small blender bowl is shown from above with a green salad dressing inside. The herbs are finely chopped up in the dressing.

    Step 2 - Pulse a few times until the herbs are broken down to your desired texture. You can also blend the dressing for 30 seconds to get a smooth dressing without pieces of herbs. Then season to taste with salt and black pepper, if desired.

    🍽️ Serving

    To serve the oil-free salad dressing, simply drizzle it over your favorite leafy greens - such as this ultra delicious Grilled Zucchini Salad - and toss to combine. It's also delicious with pasta salad!

    This dressing is truly perfect for adding flavor to any salad or veggie dish, and it's a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional oil-based dressings!

    A hand is holding a glass bottle with oil-free salad dressing and drizzling the dressing onto a green salad.

    ❄️ Storage

    To store the dressing, simply transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4-5 days. Give it a good shake before using it again, as the ingredients may separate over time.

    If you preparing your salad ahead of time, it's best to store the salad and the dressing separately to ensure the salad will still be scrumptious when you're ready to enjoy it!

    💡 Expert Tips & Tricks

    • Feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients to your liking! If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add more maple syrup. If you like it tangier, add more lemon juice.
    • If you've added to many fresh herbs and your dressing is a little chunky, simply add a little water and blend your dressing to a smoother consistency.
    • Use the freshest herbs possible to get the best flavor. You can also experiment with different herbs to find your personal favorite combination.
    • To make a creamy dressing, add a small amount of silken tofu or soft cashews to the blender.
    • This dressing is not only great for drizzling over green salads, but can also be used as a dip for veggies or a sauce for grain bowls - delicious!
    • If you're looking to reduce your sugar intake, you can substitute the maple syrup with a natural sweetener like agave or stevia.

    🔜 Related Recipes

    Try mixing this dressing with a Grilled Zucchini Salad, Roasted Cabbage & Lentil Salad and serve it alongside Homemade Salad Croutons and Vegan Feta.

    • Vegan Caesar salad with crispy tofu pieces and chickpeas on a plate.
      Tofu Caesar Salad
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      Vegan Burrito Bowl
    • A serving of delicious vegan german potato salad on a sunny table.
      Vegan German Potato Salad
    • A portion of vegan big mac potato salad on a serving bowl.
      Vegan Big Mac Potato Salad
    See more Salad →

    If you're after more oil-free salad dressing recipes, tweak the recipe with your favorite ingredients! You can easily add balsamic vinegar instead of lemon juice or add some nutritional yeast or onion powder to shake things up.

    📌 If you love Pinterest you can pin any of the images to your boards!

    📝 Recipe

    Here's a handy recipe card that you can print out and keep in your kitchen for easy reference:

    📖 Recipe Card

    A small glass bottle with a label reading 'salad dressing' is sitting on a table in between dishes. There is a green dressing inside the bottle and you can see small pieces of chopped herbs.

    Easy Oil-Free Salad Dressing (only 3 Ingredients and Vegan!)

    Romy
    This oil free dressing recipe features a zesty combination of lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup, along with optional fresh herbs for added flavor. It's easy to make and perfect for tossing with your favorite greens!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 minute min
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 minute min
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 2 servings
    Calories 172 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 mason jar with lid or small blender

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup lemon juice (60 ml)
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard (30 ml)
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (30 ml)
    • 1 handful fresh herbs (20g) e.g. dill, parsley, basil, optional
    • salt and pepper to taste, optional

    Instructions
     

    • Combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard in maple syrup in a mason jar, close the lid and shake to combine.
    • If you choose to add fresh herbs, combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until the herbs are chopped up finely.
    • Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired, and drizzle over your salad!

    Notes

    • Nutritional information for reference only. The calorie count is an estimate for the full recipe and varies depending on serving size and specific brands of ingredients used. 
    • The dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days, allowing you to enjoy it throughout the week.
    • Feel free to adjust the quantities of the ingredients to your liking. If you prefer a sweeter dressing, add more maple syrup. If you like it tangier, add more lemon juice.
    • To make the dressing creamier, you can add a small amount of silken tofu or cashews to the food processor.
    • The dressing is not only great for salads, but can also be used as a dip for veggies or a sauce for grain bowls.
    • If you're looking to reduce your sugar intake, you can substitute the maple syrup with a natural sweetener like agave or stevia.
    Keyword dressing, oil free dressing, oil-free, salad dressing, vegan salad dressing

     © 2025 Romy London / Romina Callwitz | All images, videos, wordings and content are copyright protected and belong to Romina Callwitz. Please do not use any of my content without prior permission. If you wish to re-publish any (part of my) content, please get in touch via email. Thanks for your support!

    *Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links and sponsored links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. You can find more information in my Privacy Policy.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jasmina

      July 03, 2023 at 9:05 am

      5 stars
      this was sooooo simple and sooo delicious! Indrecible!! 😍

      Reply
      • romylondonuk

        July 09, 2023 at 9:33 am

        Yay! So glad to hear that! Thanks for leaving a review ❤️

        Reply

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