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Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing

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Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just want to crawl up into a ball and ignore the world? Maybe just pretend that the outside world does not even exist? I just had one of those weeks, and I am trying very hard to move forward and figure things out…starting with this delicious Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing…..

Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing | cookingwithcurls.com

How was that for a strange segue? The good news first: my blood pressure is down and the damage to my heart is already repairing itself…Hallelujah!! Bad news: I have been ordered to reduce my consumption of bacon…and red meat…Bummer!!! Now the more bad news: My oven has gone psycho and will not hold a temperature, in fact it can’t even go above 350 degrees…$#&^%!!! With all of the money that I have spent on doctors, ER, and tests in the past  six weeks there is no moolah left to replace the oven. 🙁

And the hits keep coming. The reason why I was trying to get the oven up to 425 degrees, was to shoot a video for my Irish Nachos. Not only would the oven not cooperate, but then the leg on my newish tripod refused to stay in the locked position…so  no videos for me in the near future….I give up! LOL

What does any of that have to do with Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing you ask? I’m sure you are waiting with bated breathe to hear the answer, right? 😉

A Delicious Superfood Salad topped with Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing | cookingwithcurls.com

I need to eat more salads, not bacon…doctor’s orders! I pointed out that I eat Whole 30 compliant, no sugar, no sulfite, uncured bacon….but he was not going for it. Too much fat in bacon….when was the last time that you had your cholesterol checked? $#@$%, more money for tests, LOL {3 years ago is the answer}

So I went to the grocery store searching through the produce section looking for inspiration. I grabbed a couple of Dole Chopped Salad Kits and topped them with Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken. I tried the Poppy Seed and Sunflower Crunch versions and of course decided to recreate them at home…because that is what I do. 😉

How to make Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing:

Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth and thoroughly combined…..

Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing blend | cookingwithcurls.com

Now puree it again just to make sure. Chill for 30 minutes before serving…..

This Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing is perfect paired with a Superfood Salad | cookingwithcurls.com

I actually combined what I liked about both salads into one, minus the bacon bits, and created a Superfood Salad!

Notes:

  • The original salad dressing is LOADED with sugar. The first ingredient is sugar, no I did not read the label ahead of time, so I opted to swap honey for the sugar to make it healthier.
  • Honey instead of sugar makes this recipe Paleo, you will need to swap the honey for agave nectar to make yours Vegan if that is how you roll.
  • I tried it with vinegar, like on the ingredient label, but it was too much. The lemon juice alone is tangy enough.
  • I only had grainy Whole 30 compliant Dijon mustard, non-grainy will work as well.
  • I added the tapioca starch as a thickener, like on the ingredient label, but it is optional if you do not have any.

I cannot say that my Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing is an exact match to the original, because the original is sickly sweet and mine is not. {probably to offset the saltiness of the bacon bits} Even with 3 Tablespoons of honey, it is nowhere near as sweet as the original…but it is dang close and really delicious!!

The flavor of the honey is more pronounced than the onion in case you are worried, and the lemon juice gives this dressing a tangy bite. Definitely a fun flavor combination, and a departure from my mayonnaise based dressings.

Some additional Salad Dressing for you to try:

Citrus Vinaigrette – Vegan, Paleo, Whole30

Homemade Ranch Dressing – Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-free, can be vegan

Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing – Paleo, Vegan, Whole30 – omit the honey

Italian Dressing – Whole30, Paleo, Vegan

Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing – Japanese Steakhouse style

Caesar Salad Dressing – Whole30 & Paleo

I guess eating more salads isn’t all bad, at least they don’t require an oven! 😉

Enjoy!!

Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing | cookingwithcurls.com

Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing

This Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing tastes exactly how it sounds. Tangy undertones from the onions and lemon, with sweetness from the honey!
4.32 from 74 votes
Print Rate
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: paleo, dressing, recipe, salad dressing, healthy
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 166kcal
Author: Lisa Johnson

Ingredients

  • 1 cup diced sweet onions (such as Vidalia)
  • ½ cup light olive or sunflower oil
  • ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (1 large lemon)
  • 3 Tablespoons honey or agave nectar (omit for Whole30)
  • 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca starch (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 large clove fresh garlic

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until smooth and thoroughly combined.
  • Chill for 30 minutes before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Notes

  • Honey instead of sugar makes this recipe Paleo, you will need to swap the honey for agave nectar to make yours Vegan if that is how you roll.
  • I tried it with vinegar, like on the ingredient label, but it was too much. The lemon juice alone is tangy enough.
  • I only had grainy Whole 30 compliant Dijon mustard, non-grainy will work as well.
  • I added the tapioca starch as a thickener, like on the ingredient label, but it is optional if you do not have any.

Nutrition

Calories: 166kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 190mg | Potassium: 36mg | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Vitamin C: 3.9mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.2mg

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15 Comments

  1. OMG! My husband and I were looking for a salad dressing that was light, full flavored, and would be healthy…the Sweet Onion and Citrus Dressing is the BEST! I did not put the tapioca starch in it because we like our dressings a bit thin. I have now made two “batches” in two weeks, and the second was a double. We have used it on salmon, pierogis, salads, and I can’t wait to try it on nearly anything else. Thank you for such a great recipe!
    Dawn
    Littleton, CO

  2. Fantastic! Like you I also found the dressing in bag of Dole salad mix. It was Love at first bite! The search then began to find a quart of it somewhere. I had no such luck, but stumbled upon your recipe and I must say, Thank you Thank you! We are bee ? keepers so we loved the honey substitution you made. Definitely not as sweet as the Dole, but surprisingly better in every way. Fresh and refreshing! Thank you again!

  3. 5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe. I have been trying to find one because I really like the dressing in the dole bag. Thank you so much

  4. Can’t wait to try this! Sunflower crunch dressing is the best but really appreciate a Whole 30 compliant, sugar free version! (Btw… two pieces of prosciutto (whole 30 compliant) microwaved for 45 seconds to 1 minute tastes pretty darn close to bacon!)

  5. I’m not a doctor. Did you know that back in the 1950’s, the sugar industry paid Harvard researchers to publish a “study” that claimed that fat is bad but sugar is good for you? Doctors have been preaching that fat is bad ever since. I’m not saying you should eat bacon, but if you cut out all sugar (not carbs!), and eat healthy fats, your body will thank you. Please do some research and don’t rely on doctors alone…they have been misinformed for over 60 years! Be well!

    P.S. The salad dressing sounds delish!

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