There are rules to making a nice salad dressing, like starting with a 3:1 oil to acid ratio, and adding in some sweet and salty components. Sweeteners like honey and maple syrup act as emulsifiers that hold the oil and vinegar together, and let’s face it, sweet sells, whether you’re at home or in a restaurant.

But what if you don’t want added sweeteners in your salad dressings? In support of our Sugar Savvy challenge, I made a video demonstrating three of my homemade, go-to salad dressings. I broke the salad dressing rules, but all of them hold together nicely and they are delicious without any sweeteners. The beauty of striking sugar from your life is that everything else becomes sweeter and you don’t need that extra hit anymore. If you’re still getting used to having some sweeteners in your life, add a little raw honey to these recipes until you find that you don’t need it anymore.

Not only are these dressings delicious, but in the video I point out the health benefits of their ingredients. So, not only do you get some great nutrition from your salad, but you add an extra healthy boost with the dressing.

Dreamy Creamy Avocado Dressing

via Kimberly Snyder

I make this dressing all the time without adding the honey or stevia. My daughter doesn’t like avocados but she loves this dressing. I like it because the dill really adds a unique flavor that moves away from your traditional guacamole. If you don’t have fresh dill, just substitute a teaspoon of dried. The lemon juice in this recipe helps the avocado hold its color so you can store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for a few days without it turning brown.

Raw Ranch Dressing

via The Rawtarian

This recipe calls for a whopping three tablespoons of agave, honey, or maple syrup. It just doesn’t need it. The cashews and apple cider vinegar add plenty of sweetness. This is a versatile recipe that is easily poured for dressing straight out of the blender, and then it thickens up in the refrigerator making an excellent dip. This is a fantastic option for people who prefer not to consume dairy. If you’re looking for a nut-free, more traditional alternative, try my Homemade Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt. Greek yogurt contains lactose, a sugar found in dairy products, but since it’s strained, it contains a smaller amount.

Basic Vinaigrette

InDependent Original

Every home cook needs a basic, no-fuss vinaigrette made from ingredients likely to be on hand to turn to on busy days. This one comes from Joy’s kitchen. She’s our IT director, but she got away from the computer long enough to come up with this winner first presented in Gardening for Good Health. Then I tweaked it and used it for my Raw Kale Salad with Quinoa, Lentils and Pecans, which has become my favorite dish to take to gatherings because it guarantees that I can have a filling, healthy meal regardless of whatever else is served.

Try these out and let me know what you think! Are you ready to ditch sweetened salad dressings? Personally, if I’m going to eat a treat, I want to eat a treat. I don’t want sweets showing up in my regular food, especially something as healthy as a salad.

Do you have a favorite unsweetened salad dressing?