My herb garden is busting with basil. When I decided to make my green bean salad recipe today, I decided to pair it with my lemon basil dressing recipe. Since the produce was so beautiful at the market this week, I planned an entire week of salads for dinner. In Arizona, the temperatures are 100 degrees in the early evening. So, my lemon basil dressing is refreshing paired with my cold green bean salad.
Not only is lemon basil dressing refreshing, but it's also oil-free and perfect for any summer salad recipe. And, it's simple to make!
WHAT INGREDIENTS DO I NEED TO MAKE LEMON BASIL DRESSING?
First, fresh basil is necessary to make this refreshing lemon basil dressing. In Arizona, basil thrives in my garden in the 100-degree temperatures. In fact, all my herbs seem to grow at an increasing rate all year round compared to my indoor and outdoor gardens when we lived in Michigan.
Another suggestion is to use fresh lemon juice and garlic. Even though it would take a discerning palate to tell the difference between bottled and fresh lemon juice, most bottled juices contain preservatives. And, another bonus to fresh lemon is the lemon zest. Since I used lemon zest for this lemon basil dressing, make sure you buy organic lemons or scrub them before zesting.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED:
- Raw blanched slivered almonds
- White Vinegar
- Water
- Fresh Lemon Juice
- Garlic
- Fresh Basil
- Maple Syrup
Additionally, you will need a quality high-speed blender. For instance, I use a Nutri-bullet, which is no only inexpensive, I've owned it for years. Despite popular belief, you do not need a blender similar to a car payment. Quality, for example, doesn't always come with tehhgihest price tag.
Then, you simply blend the ingredients, refrigerate and use on your favorite salad, veggies, or pasta.
SUGGESTED RECIPES THAT GO WELL WITH LEMON BASIL DRESSING
Personally, I love lemon basil dressing so much, I often double the batch and put it on a variety of dishes. In fact, I think I would eat it with a fox, in a box, in a house.....it's just that good! So, here are some of my favorite recipes:
(ASPARAGUS SALAD)
(ROASTED VEGETABLE SALAD)
(VEGAN COBB SALAD)
(ANTIPASTO SALAD)
(ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD)
(GREEN BEAN SALAD)
📖 Recipe
Lemon Basil Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup packed fresh basil
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 1 ½ lemons juiced and zested
- ¼ cup raw blanched slivered almonds
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 Tablespoon Maple syrup
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender.
- Blend on high until smooth.
- Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Diane Barnett
Is there another vinegar I can sub for white vinegar? Like unsweetened rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Diane, if you need a different vinegar to substitute for white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar.
Anonymous
Anonymous