The walls of her kitchen were tastefully decorated with lemons. I commented on a particular piece of art which looked hand painted. She told me that she painted it because she loves lemons. “In fact,” she said, “I have a lemon tree on my deck!” My friend walked me outside and showed me a 3-foot tree blooming in a large pot, budding small green lemons.
As a fellow foodie, this friend and I often share recipes, and I left her home that afternoon inspired to make a lemon salad dressing.
First, I pulled out my Vitamix Aer Disc container, which whisks together dressings with the flip of a switch!
I started by zesting one lemon, because it adds such a potent flavor to any dish. Then I juiced a few lemons into the Vitamix container until I had approximately ⅓ cup of fresh lemon juice.
I poured in olive oil—the perfect base for every salad dressing—and a teaspoon of mustard—the secret ingredient to a perfect salad dressing.
The final ingredients were a pinch of salt plus a few scoops of pesto. Don’t have pesto? Try a tablespoon of dry Italian herbs instead (oregano, basil, parsley, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, marjoram).
Like the flavor of balsamic vinegar? You could also add a tablespoon to the blender.
My Vitamix whirred to life as the ingredients were pulled through the disc and incorporated together. After 30 seconds, I dipped in a piece of lettuce into the dressing and gave it a taste. Fresh, crisp, and rich in Mediterranean flavors.
Drizzle over a bed of lettuce topped with whatever you like. Tomatoes and croutons taste best with this dressing!
Lemon Pesto Dressing
A citrus twist on a classic Italian salad dressing.
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp pesto
- ⅓ cup lemon juice
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: 1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to Vitamix Aer Disc container.
- Gradually turn speed to medium high and blend for 30 seconds.
- Serve immediately or store in a jar in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 234Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 115mgCarbohydrates: 5gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 2g
