The Holy Trinity (of Vinaigrettes)

Hey babes!

So, are you ready for a secret? A DEVASTATING one???

I eat what some may consider to be….BORING LUNCHES.

I know, truly shameful. Really though, I am a busy babe. On top of writing for you lovely folks and raising children, I have a career and a strict gym schedule. It all takes planning. And I spend a lot of my creative cooking here, and for dinners, and food for friends. To me, there is a comfort to knowing that lunch is going to be a serving of grains, maybe some beans or legumes, some vegetables, and a heaping helping of greens (usually kale).

So now your faith in my taste buds is starting to wane, right? You’re thinking, how could you each such bland, dry bowls day in, day out? Are you a robot?

First, vegetables and grains don’t have to be bland. I like to doll mine up by cooking the grains in dark, delicious vegetable broth, and my spice rack has a lot more than salt and pepper. But to add moisture without adding unnecessary red-light foods like oil and added sugar, I turn to my secret arsenal.

Home. Made. Vinaigrettes.

Seriously, babes, this is the most underappreciated type of recipe that should definitely be in your fridge, like, 100% of the time. A bright delicious vinaigrette can add so much interest to a meal, without taking away from the goodness the base already instills. In fact, the vinaigrette has it’s own health benefits to add to the mix.

Vinegars

Vinegar, on top of being extremely delicious and the perfect acid splash in any rich soup, chili, or curry, vinegar is also extremely healthy (and a 100% greenlight food). For starters, vinegar is antiglycemic, blunting the blood sugar spike that comes after eating, and is said to increase satiety because it slows stomach emptying. Additionally, vinegar has been shown to improve cholesterol and vasodilation, and putting vinegar on greens (like kale!) can increase their ability to improve endothelial function!

But, straight vinegar is obviously not recommended. It’s incredibly acidic (good-bye, beautiful enamel), and eating too much can exacerbate things like reflux, heartburn, and indigestion. Luckily, a little mixed into a delicious vinaigrette, eaten once or twice a day, can help maximize the benefits without creating unwanted side effects.

So, today I will bestow upon you my three most reliable vinaigrettes. One is spicy, and inspired by all the delicious flavors of Latin American dishes. Next is nutty and sour, inspired by some of the flavors of Asians dishes. And last is Ol’ Faithful, the one that I crave day-in and day-out. Let me know what you think, what you’d change, and what you drizzle them over!