5 of Our Favorite Heart (Ahem) Healthy Salad Dressing Recipes We’re Sure Are As Special As Olivia Wilde’s

Photo: Stocksy/ Nataša Mandić
Of course, going through a breakup is never easy, especially when all of the details are blasted on social media—as is the case of Jason Sudeikis and Olivia Wilde’s messy split. The pair, who had been together for over a decade, came across rough seas as Wilde was caught late night talking (ha) with her fellow Don’t Worry Darling costar, Harry Styles.

Since then, things have been far from smooth sailing. Earlier this year, Sudeikis publicly served Wilde with custody paperwork during her CinemaCon appearance while promoting her new film. But in “my dog stepped on a bee” fashion, as was sensationalized in the heated Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial, recent news of Wilde’s “special dressing” allegations has people wondering what’s in the secret sauce.

In a recent statement made by the former nanny of Wilde and Sudeikis' children, claims were made that Sudeikis became enraged when he found out that Wilde made her special salad dressing and shared it with her new lover. And although we don't have the recipe at the center of this love triangle, we do have five benefits-rich vegan dressings for you to add to your next bowl of greens. Instead of breaking your heart, these delicious dressing will do quite the opposite...after all, they're packed with cardiovascular-boosting ingredients.

5 heart-healthy vegan dressings to make every salad special

1. Longevity-Boosting Lemon Tahini Herb Sauce

This simple six-ingredient salad dressing is far from ordinary and, dare we say, very special. Why? It’s made with longevity-boosting ingredients (like tahini, clove, and lemon) that some of the longest-living people in the world regularly consume in the coveted Blue Zones. The dressing was crafted by Dean Sherzai, MD, and Ayesha Sherzai, MD, a husband and wife team and directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center. "Data from many studies have repeatedly supported a whole-food, plant-based diet as being protective for brain health in general, and Alzheimer’s and stroke in particular,” the Sherzais previously shared with Dan Buettner, longevity expert and Blue Zones founder. Time to get emulsifying!

Get the recipe: Lemon Tahini Herb Sauce

2. Golden Goddess Salad Dressing

Looking for quite possibly the most delicious anti-inflammatory dressing that has ever existed? We’ve got you covered. Consider this the creamy, dreamy cousin of a green goddess dressing (which we also adore). However, this play on the original packs major anti-inflammatory benefits thanks to ingredients like olive oil, turmeric, black pepper, and cumin, to name a few. The vibrant yellow dressing gets its beautiful color from turmeric, one of the top heart-healthy spices that can help lower inflammation and boost gut health.

Get the recipe: Golden Goddess Salad

3. Healthy “Fat Salad” Dressing

According to functional medicine doctor Mark Hyman, MD, the best salad is a fat salad. The salad is made with nutrient-dense ingredients like arugula, olives, pumpkin seeds, tomatoes, avocadoes, artichokes, and canned wild salmon and topped with a simple yet delicious salad dressing made with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper. Though it may sound basic, the health benefits are far from it. The salad is a great source of healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fats, which help promote brain health, heart health, and improve blood flow, thanks to olives, avocadoes, and salmon. Lunch plans are officially made.

Get the recipe: Functional Medicine Doctor’s Fat Salad

4. Garlicky Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

Although tinned seafood is oft deemed a cardiovascular-boosting “nutrient powerhouse,” we understand that it may not be for everyone. This garlicky vegan kale Caesar salad has no sneaky anchovies hidden in the dressing. Instead, it gets all of its rich umami flavors from the tahini, which makes this dressing ultra-rich and luscious. Plus, tahini, made from sesame seeds, is packed with amino acids, vitamin E, B vitamins, trace minerals, zinc, and fatty acids that help boost skin health for a radiant glow.

Get the recipe: Vegan Kale Caesar Salad

5. Beet Juice Vinaigrette

This salad dressing by chef Nyesha Arrington, like all things in life, is all about balance. She balances out the rich dressing by combining ingredients like beet juice, coriander, cumin, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lime juice, which pair perfectly with sweet roasted squash and beets. To help make cleanup even easier, Arrington shares a chef pro tip: Use a mason jar to combine your ingredients and then close it with the lid before shaking to emulsify. Then, if you have any leftovers, you can easily store the jar of dressing in the fridge until ready to use.

Get the recipe: Delicata Squash Salad

Want more salad dressing inspiration? This refreshing honey lemon dressing will likely do the job:

Loading More Posts...