Creamy Anti-Inflammatory Salad Dressing or Sauce Recipe (2024)

Here we are on the last day of our Dairy-Free Recipe Potluck – the 21-Day Dairy-Free Challengestarts tomorrow (you can join anytime)! To wrap things up, I have a healthy yet satisfying recipe from my own kitchen: creamy anti-inflammatory salad dressing.

We’ve had quite a bit of dessertinspirationlately, but I know everyday life calls for scrumptious ways to enjoysavory foods, too. This creamy anti-inflammatory salad dressing delivers withjust a little sweet, a little savory, a little tangy, a little spicy and a whole lot of satisfying and nutritious versatility.

It was over a decade ago that I first read about anti-inflammation in the book The Inflammation Syndrome by Jack Challem. The term has continued to popup from time to time on healthy diet chats and posts, but this year, it’s really gaining steam. At the Fancy Food Show, foodslike turmeric were abuzz and just last week, my husband’s doctor recommended he incorporate some more anti-inflammatory foods into his diet.

At first I was a little stumped on where to make changes – our diets seemed pretty solid as is – but then I remembered that the dressing on our daily big salads could use a healthy makeover. Rather than modify, I started from scratch with several nutrient-rich ingredients that I knew would go well together:

• Raw Cashews – Found in studies and observations to have protective anti-inflammatory compounds.
• Chia Seeds – These new darlings have a wonderful Omega ratio and are even pretty darn rich in calcium.
• Cashew Milk – Same goodness as cashews and it provides a little extra body and rich flavor.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – Beloved in natural circles, it is a more controversial food, but even the medical community recognizes it’s probiotic properties.
• Honey– Topically a fantastic inflammation fighter, and studies have shown equivalent potential for coating the throat. But strict vegans can substitute agave nectar!
• Ginger – Contains it’s very own potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols – no joke!
• Turmeric – A new superstar against inflammation –shown to have positive effects in digestive conditions and battling cancer, too!
• Black Pepper – Helps to significantly increase the bioavailability of turmeric.
• Curry Powder – More ginger, turmeric, and pepper bundled with a smattering of other healthy spices.
• Mustard – Studies have shown that this ingredient can up the cancer-fighting skills of cruciferous veggies – a must if you serve the creamy anti-inflammatory salad dressing atop kale or broccoli. Plus, it rounds out the flavor.

And using this cashew milk and chia blend in place oftypical mayo not only pumps up the nutrition, but it also leaves you with generously sized low-fat, oil-free servings – just 5 to 6 grams of fat per full 3 tablespoons! Enjoy this creamy anti-inflammatory salad dressingatop your favorite salad greens, or drizzle it over steamed cauliflower or potatoes. It can be served at room temperature, or if you opt to gently heat it as a sauce, note that it will thicken even more.

The Dairy-Free RecipePotluck is sponsored by So Delicious Dairy Free and the 21 Day Dairy-Free Challenge.

Special Diet Notes:Anti-Inflammatory Salad Dressing

By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan / plant-based, vegetarian, and mostlypaleo (easily adaptable for strict paleo).