Herb Vinaigrette (1g carb per serving!)

Ingredients

·         1/4 cup rice wine vinegar (or your favorite vinegar)

·         1/4 cup lemon or lime juice

·         1 clove garlic, peeled

·         2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (like basil, cilantro, tarragon)

·         1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or grapeseed oil or canola oil)

·         1 tablespoon Dijon mustard or plain low-fat yogurt

·         2 teaspoons SPLENDA® Granulated (or other sweetener) to taste

·         1 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper

·         Pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste

·         1/4 teaspoon sea salt (optional)

Preparation:

1)      Pulse the first four ingredients in a food processor until relatively smooth. 

2)      Add oil and mustard (or yogurt) to mixture and pulse a few times to blend.

3)      Add pepper, Splenda and salt, if using.  Pulse a bit more to blend. 

4)      Store tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.  Stir or shake well before each use.  Great on salads or on your choice of protein for a healthy meal. 

Yields 1 cup (16 tablespoons/servings).  Each tablespoon has, as follows: 

·         Herb Dijon Vinaigrette:  34 calories; 3g fat; trace protein; 1g carb; trace dietary fiber; 0mg cholesterol; 42mg sodium (32mg, if salt is omitted).

·         Herb Yogurt Vinaigrette: 33 calories; 3g fat; trace protein;1g carbohydrate;trace dietary fiber; trace cholesterol; 31mg sodium (2mg, if salt it omitted).

·         Nita’s Notes: 

1.       Yummy-to-the-tummy salad dressing or marinade for fish, poultry, meat, tofu.  Use whatever favorite fresh herbs are in season.  (Let me just say, pairing fresh cilantro and lime juice is spectacular on fish or chicken!)

2.       This is a quick and easy vinaigrette with much room for your own personal touches.  Don’t be afraid to use different kinds of vinegars.  Most of them have around 16g carbs PER CUP!!  That’s low carb when you’re stretching it over a whole salad dressing/marinade recipe.

3.       Need to nibble?  We ALL have those times when we eat out of boredom.  Keep fresh in-season, non-starchy veggies in your fridge.  Don’t go for something bad.  Top a cup or two of raw veggies with Vinaigrette and have a healthy, low-carb, low-calorie, fiber-ful snack!  I grew up on a farm and there’s just nothing better than the taste of fresh veggies to me!   I love to snack on fresh veggies with this in the evening—especially now in the heat of summer in South Georgia.  So cool to the tongue.  Aaaahhh! 

From my home to yours—Nita

Make healthier choices for a happier life!

Anita Peacock

Lifelong Type 1 Diabetic

eCommerce site:  MyDiabeticBag.com  (Check out my bags!)

eMail:  peacockproducts@bellsouth.net



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Credit:  SPLENDA® is a registered trademark of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.