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Whisking up a homemade dressing is better than bottled stuff. Some homemade dressings are so easy they only take a minute to whip up, which sounds a lot simpler than perusing through the endless options at the grocery store trying to decide which bottle to buy and almost always ending up disappointed because it is rarely as good.
Needless to say, I don’t buy dressing that often. But when I find a bottled dressing that I enjoy, I buy multiple at a time because I’ll go through it quickly. That’s exactly how I felt after trying the new Trader Joe’s Organic Mango Vinaigrette.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Retailer below
Typically, I find fruit-based salad dressings too sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised by the balanced taste of this one. The mango flavor is prominent but not overpowering, with a nice balance of sweetness at the start, followed by tangy vinegar and savory garlic and peppers to finish.
It is thick for a vinaigrette, with a consistency that almost feels creamy, yet it doesn’t contain any dairy.
I’m also pleasantly surprised at the ingredients of this dressing. Typically, bottle dressings can be loaded with chemical preservatives and added sugars. While I don’t shy away from eating these types of foods, I don’t exactly love buying salad dressings with these when I intend to eat salad for the sake of feeling nourished.
TJ’s dressing, however, is exactly the kind of solution I look for. The ingredients are all-natural, relying on real organic sugar, juice concentrates, and purées for sweetness instead of high-fructose corn syrup or other chemically enhanced sweeteners.
While this mango dressing works well for my salad needs, especially when I’m making a big salad for lunch like this kale and farro salad with candied pecans or radicchio salad with citrus, I also find it works well as a tasty spread in my sandwiches, like a simple cucumber sandwich or grilled chicken Caprese sandwich.
This dressing could even be a tasty dip if you’re looking for something unique next time you serve a veggie platter!
