Blueberry Vinaigrette

First Do No Harm

Blueberry Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Ingredients (as always, as organic as possible):

½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt
2 tablespoons honey, or 3 tablespoons Erythritol, or 3 scoops Better Stevia
¼ cup and 2 tablespoons water *
5 - 8 oz of blueberries (from frozen/with juice)
¼ cup Pomegranate Juice Powder
1 cup extra virgin olive oil or Macadamia Nut Oil or MCT Oil *

To make it creamy, add a quarter cup Coconut Milk Powder

* = see below for lite (fewer calories) options.

Equal to 25 lbs of sugar.

Simply the Best is making their Organic Pomegranate Juice Powder available to our readers cheaper than anywhere on the internet, and shipping is included. Also, check out our other recipes.

Instructions: just mix in a blender (just a few seconds). It's delicious and super heart healthy!

Please note that we use frozen blueberries that come in packages of 10 ounces. You can use all ten ounces in this recipe, or use the entire package and double the recipe. This recipe is good either way. However, don't add that much more stevia. The berries are so sweet, 4 to 5 scoops of Better Stevia, or 4 tablespoons of Erythritol, or just three tablespoons of Honey will be enough for a double batch.

In a blender combine everything. If you are using fresh raspberries, use more.

Editor's Note: because you are health conscious, you have probably read about the problems with buying extra virgin olive oil; that most of the time you are being ripped off. This is why I can recommend getting your olive oil (and apple cider vinegar) from Braggs. They make quality products and you just cannot go wrong with them.

The link to the Macadamia Nut Oil (organic) is the best price on the web and just happens to be, in our eyes, healthier than virgin olive oil. (To read about Macadamia Nut Oil just click.)

The ADVANTAGE of using Macadamia Nut Oil over olive oil is this: Macadamia nut oil contains an anti-inflammatory agent which reduces C-Reactive Protein, the main cause of leptin resistance. So, if you're dieting, you'll want to cut your CRP. You might also what to read about Cardia-7.

Below are more suggestions for dieters, but the best suggestion is to use MCT oils which cannot cling to your fat cells. They must be used up quickly like carbohydrates. You can read about them here: MCT Oils, and you can purchase them here: MCT & Mac Oils.

To learn more about the stevia we use and recommend, go here: Better Stevia.

A Note For Dieters

There are very few reasons to fear good fats. Macadamia nut oil and virgin olive oil are good for you. That being said, sometimes you just want a little bit of oil and fewer calories. I understand this. When dieting, it's better at times to get your calories from fat than from carbs, but too many calories from anything can spoil a diet.

So, if this recipe is too much for your diet, I've devised TWO revisions that will lower the calories. Less fat usually means less taste. Not in these recipes. We've done blind taste tests and people just cannot tell the difference.

First Revision

¼ cup olive oil or macadamia nut oil or MCT oil
1 ¼ cup water
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Soak the chia seeds overnight in the water. When the rest of the recipe is blended up, just stir in the water and chia seeds. No need to blend in the blender. This has much fewer calories than the original recipe, and you are getting some omega-3s from the chia seeds.

Second Revision (this is my favorite)

¼ cup olive oil or macadamia nut oil or MCT oil (this is the best choice for dieters)
1 ¼ cup water
½ teaspoon xanthan gum (1 tsp if you want it thicker)

Again, first blend up the rest of the recipe before you add the xanthan gum. You have to be very ready with a submersion blender (or whatever blender you're using) because the moment the xanthan gum hits the water it starts to solidify. So...you've been warned.

Once your dressing is blended, whether using a blender, NutriBullet, or submersion blender, add the xanthan gum thoroughly blend. Once it's all blended up you'll see it turn very thick, very fast. Do not overblend when you add the xanthan gum. When it's all mixed up and thick, you're done. This version has the fewest calories and if you use MCT oils, these fats will not stick around.

Health Benefits

This recipe is highly anti-inflammatory. Additionally, this is, because of both the blueberries and pomegranate juice, very heart healthy. Blueberries have been found to be beneficial for improvement of memory, and slowing down the onset of other cognitive problems associated with aging. Click here for a super article on Chronic Inflammation.

Click here to email this page to a friend.

© Copyright 2013 Minnesota Wellness Publications, Inc.

For non commercial use: You may copy, print, reprint, and/or transfer this entire article, if and only if it is unmodified and in its complete state with this copyright notice attached and all the links work properly. All others must contact us in writing.

David's PhotoArt - Fine Art Supporting The International Wellness Directory