Raspberry Vinaigrette

First Do No Harm

Raspberry Vinaigrette
In case you're wondering, I've doubled the recipe. It's just easier to make.

Ingredients (as always, as organic as possible):

½ cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Celtic Sea Salt
4 tablespoons honey, or 5 tablespoons Erythritol, or 6 scoops Better Stevia
¼ cup and 2 tablespoons water
1 cup of raspberries (or just toss in a whole 10 oz bag of defrosted raspberries)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil or Macadamia Nut Oil

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

One Note on Erythritol: it does not blend easily, so when you get it home, the first thing you should do is put it into a blender and grind it into a powder. This will help it blend into your sauces.

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 is the best price I've found on the web. I order from them by the case. 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.

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 of 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 means less taste. We love fat. So you're giving up a tad bit of taste but at least you're still getting real food. I've actually found a zero calorie raspberry vinaigrette that had no raspberries in it and a ton of chemicals.

First Revision

¼ cup olive oil or macadamia nut 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
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 start with 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.

Put the xanthan gum in the water and thoroughly blend with a submersion blender (or what ever tool you're using). Once it's all blended up you'll see it turn very thick, very fast. Don't OVER blend. When it's all mixed up and thick, you're done. Just add it to the rest of the mixture and stir/shake everything together.

This version has the lowest calories.

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