Detox Salad Dressing: Easy Lemon Dijon Recipe

Detox salad dressing is a lemon, olive oil and Dijon dressing that takes 5 minutes to make and yields 5 servings of about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) each. For more ideas, try the AI detox recipe generator. Pair it with any of these detox salad recipes.

What ingredients do you need?

• Olive oil: 1/4 cup (60 mL; about 55 g)
• Lemon juice: 1/4 cup (60 mL; about 60 g)
• Dijon mustard: 1 tablespoon, or 1/16 cup (15 mL; about 15 g)
• Water: 1 tablespoon, or 1/16 cup (15 mL; 15 g)

The olive oil gives detox salad dressing body, while lemon juice provides its tart flavor. Dijon mustard adds a savory note and helps the oil and lemon juice combine. Water softens the acidity and makes the dressing easier to pour.

Fresh or bottled lemon juice works. Choose juice without added sweetener if you prefer a sharper flavor. Check the mustard label if you need to avoid a particular ingredient; mustard itself is an allergen.

The gram weights are approximate, so measuring by volume is a convenient way to keep the proportions consistent. If using a kitchen scale, place your bowl on it and reset the scale between ingredients.

How do you make detox salad dressing?

You will need a small bowl and whisk, or a clean jar with a tight-fitting lid. Detox salad dressing is ready to use immediately; it needs 0 minutes of steeping.

1. Measure the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard and water into the bowl or jar.
2. Whisk the ingredients until combined, or close the jar and shake it well.
3. Taste a small amount and stir in a little more water if the lemon flavor is too sharp.
4. Pour about 2 tablespoons (30 mL) over each salad serving, then toss to coat.

The dressing may separate as it sits. Whisk or shake it again before serving so each portion gets a mix of oil, lemon and mustard. If you add extra water, the total yield will be slightly larger and the flavor milder.

For an evenly dressed salad, start with the measured portion and toss thoroughly before adding more. A bowl gives you room to coat the leaves without having to pour all the dressing onto one spot.

Why does it fit a detox-style meal?

Detox salad dressing can make vegetables and other salad ingredients more enjoyable to eat. Its simple ingredients add flavor without requiring added sugar, although the nutritional profile depends on the ingredients and brands you use.

The name does not mean the dressing removes toxins. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification, while the lungs and gut help eliminate waste; sweat removes only trace amounts. A varied diet and adequate hydration support normal body functions, but there is no evidence that this dressing provides a special detox effect.

Think of it as a way to season a meal rather than a cleanse. Pairing it with a variety of salad ingredients can make the meal more satisfying, but the dressing itself does not replace a balanced diet.

What is the nutrition per serving?

One serving is approximately 2 tablespoons (30 mL), assuming the recipe is divided into 5 equal portions without extra water. Nutrition will vary with the mustard and lemon juice used and with how evenly the dressing is mixed.

The calorie estimate is for the olive oil alone, not the complete dressing. Each serving contains about one-fifth of the oil in the recipe, along with one-fifth of the other ingredients. Check the labels on your mustard and lemon juice if you need a closer estimate of total calories or sodium.

Measure the amount you serve rather than relying on a free pour if portion size matters to you. Shake or whisk first: separated oil can make individual portions less consistent.

How should you store and meal-prep it?

Refrigerate detox salad dressing promptly in a clean, covered container. For the best flavor, use it within 24 hours, and discard any remainder after 2 days. Do not treat the lemon juice as a reason to store the mixture at room temperature.

For meal prep, keep the dressing separate from salad leaves until you are ready to eat. That helps the leaves stay crisp and lets you decide how much dressing each portion needs. A small lidded container makes it easy to shake the dressing before adding it.

Olive oil can thicken in the refrigerator; let the dressing stand briefly, then shake or whisk it to recombine. Discard it sooner if it develops an unusual smell or appearance. If you pack it for a meal away from home, keep it chilled until serving.

Make only the amount you expect to use during the storage window. You can also divide the batch into small covered containers for individual meals, keeping each portion refrigerated until needed.

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