Bring your condiments up to date and use different, healthy seasonings for your dishes

The classic vinaigrette made with salt, oil and vinegar has been dressing our salads all our lives. But, with the great variety of aromatic herbs, sauces and delicious, healthy seasoning now available, don’t you think it is time to try something new?

Olive oil is the star product and we should go on using it, but why not combine it with other ingredients for a more exotic touch?

Try these new ideas:

• Soya dressing. It is based on soya sauce which can be low in salt. Rice vinegar, chopped ginger and a yoghourt are added to complete the dressing.
• Fruit juice. Orange or lemon juice, providing vitamin C to activate the metabolism, are normally used, but if you are looking for something sweeter, try red fruit juice which will give your dish that extra dose of antioxidants.
• Honey and mustard dressing. You can use your favourite mustard, mild or more intense, honey, pepper, a spoonful of mayonnaise and a pinch of salt. It has an intense flavour, so a little is enough. It is ideal in salads with animal protein.
• Yoghourt sauce. A yoghourt base can be used for many different sauces but they will always be lighter than mayonnaise. Yoghourt provides carbohydrates, proteins and calcium, so it helps in digestion and feeds muscles and bones. Use low-fat yoghourt to limit the calories and add some gherkin pickles, cheese, basil, pepper, cumin, garlic, mustard…
• Mustard. It is a versatile ingredient providing great flavour. It can be mixed with honey, citrus fruits and aromatic herbs, or added to a classic vinaigrette. It provides iron, calcium and vitamin C and unsaturated fats.
• Light barbeque sauce. It is made with water, onion, lemon, mustard, salt, pepper and ketchup. It is ideal for seasoning meat dishes or salads with deep fried chicken or turkey.
• Special and cream vinegars. There are apple, wine, cider and balsamic vinegars, among others. It has antioxidant properties and helps digestion. It has more calories when it comes as a cream due to the sugar content but its intense flavour means that very little goes a long way.

Go on and try other original sauces like the vegan sauce, which is prepared with soya milk instead of eggs, or add condiments like curry, pepper, basil, thyme, estragon, sage and seeds like pumpkin or poppy seeds in place of salt and fill your dishes with flavour.

This post is also available in: Spanish