Lipsmackingly delicious, quick and easy Cranberry Ginger Vinaigrette is ready in only 5 minutes with just 5 easily available ingredients, & is also vegan. Enjoy all the sweet, tart and pungent flavors in this one dressing. Accessorize your salad with this dressing and it will stand out as a winner.
This week we celebrate cranberries as they come into the peak of their season. These glossy, red berries are also commonly known as the red tart cousins of blueberries. Not only are they just a pretty plant but are loaded with health benefits. Fresh cranberries, contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients. Although their season is very short from October to December, when not in season the best way to consume them is to consume unsweetened cranberry juice, or just preserve them. You could also used unsweetned dried cranberries to make these Cranberry Coconut Energy Bites or these Cranberry Cookies are delicious too. Better still make the most out of them when they are in season right now. Make as many recipes as you can using these berries.
Health Benefits
Did you know that in the ancient days, medicine men used cranberries to fight fever, heal swellings & common sicknesses. Today Cranberries are very well known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory & anti-cancer properties. The PACs in cranberries makes it very difficult for certain types of bacteria to latch on to our urinary tract linings, thus is highly recommended during UTIs. The photo nutrients in these berries are very effective in lowering the risk of unwanted inflammation.
Vinaigrette
I love homemade salad dressings as they are fresh, free of additives and preservatives, and I can control the quality of the ingredients, the taste, and the texture.What I love the must about this recipe are the refreshing flavors, sweet, tart & pungent. Not only do I love the vibrant pink color, but I love the fact that this dressing so easy to make with just 5 ingredients in just 5 minutes. The use of fresh whole food, makes this dressing so rich in taste and texture. I also love the fact that one doesn’t have to give up on the texture by giving up on the dairy unlike most dressings. I know for sure that I am going to be making this recipe a few more times before the cranberry season end.
So over the weekend, I made a very small batch of this vinaigrette just to try it. The idea was if it turned out to be good, I would make a larger batch to use it on my Thanksgiving Salad. However the minute the dressing was ready I almost landed up finishing half the quantity by just scooping it out with a spoon. I was so in love with the flavors that I instantly decided to toss up a minimalist salad to go with it. As I like my salads colorful, I decided to make some vegetables noodles for this salad. I love the long curly ribbons. Aren’t they visually stimulating. Pulled out my spiralizer and Little A and I started shaving thin short ribbons out of cucumbers and carrots. He was in love with just the noodles by themselves. He loved the not-so-commonidea of shaving noodles. Honestly I actually enjoyed the curly ribbons more than the regular chopped carrots or cucumbers. I guess noodles are a great way to coat the dressing and enjoy the crunch and sweetness. Although I have used only carrots and cucumbers, you could even use, zucchini or beets or scallions to add more color. If you don’t have a spiralizer, feel free to use your peeler to shred thin straight ribbons instead of curly ribbons. For more easy ideas and inspiration, check out these recipes from some of our fellow bloggers. Cranberry Applesauce Recipe The first thing that comes to when when you think of cranberries is the cranberry sauce. It’s a great gift this time of the year or preserve it for yourself and enjoy it year round. So far, this is one of the most economical recipes for this sauce we have found online. Cranberry Frozen Yogurt Popsicles These popsicles are not only fun and tasty but are healthy too. Made with leftover Thanksgiving Cranberry Sauce, these are ready in just 5 minutes. Cranberry Orange Bread Imagine the sweetness of Oranges and the tartness of cranberries combined together. Enjoy these flavors precisely loaded in every bite of this bread. Chocolate Cranberry Torte If you are a lover of chocolate and are looking for an easy peasy rustic dessert for the holidays, this torte is a must try. Cranberry & Chicken Pilaf Enjoy the aroma & mouth watering flavors of spices and cranberries combined together in this pilaf recipe. If you don’t consume meat, replace chicken with your favorite source of protein. Pumpkin Pizza with Cranberry Sauce If you want to keep it simple & yet enjoy the festive feeling with the seasonal flavors of pumpkins and cranberries, you are going to love this Pumpkin Pizza with Cranberry Sauce. For more healthy ideas and recipes subscribe to our email or follow us on Facebook to stay updated with all the healthy information we share. Check out our Pinterest boards for all the healthy eating inspiration you’ll ever need. For an unending buffet of healthy photographed food, follow us on Instagram
