Hidden-Protein Salad Dressing
When you first think of protein powder being used in recipes, your mind probably goes to the good, old, original protein shake. Maybe you even think of smoothie bowls, if you’re experienced enough or have simply had so many shakes you became bored and had to mix things up. Either way, this outlook of what protein powder can be used in is very limited and, in turn, it limits your experience of getting the full extent out of the supplement. Don’t get us wrong – using protein powder in your shakes and smoothies is great! But that’s not the extent of your abilities.
Something that few people realize is that protein powder is also the perfect way to thicken various sauces, soups, and even salad dressings. Yes! You can add some more protein into that salad without having to make the dish overwhelmingly full. Just like some people shy away from experimenting with protein shake recipes, a lot also tend to stray away from using protein powder in savory cooking. You shouldn’t though, since it’s easy, requires next to no skill, and it’s always delicious.
Though, if you don’t have much experience in the field, you could be left asking why protein is so important. Surely it’s not that big of a deal if you tend to miss out on your recommended amount? Actually, it is. Protein is where we get our main source of energy from – it’s the nutrient that keeps our bodies functioning in the way that they should be and it’s what keeps us on our feet. Too little and you’re going to start feeling weak and lethargic pretty quickly.
While protein is important for every single person, more than enough of it is vital for those looking to expand their muscle mass and get in shape. If you don’t have enough protein, your body turns to using up the stores in your muscles, which means that you’ll actually be losing mass rather than putting it on. This definitely isn’t what you want, so keeping up those protein levels is a must.
But what kind of protein should you use in recipes? We recommended using whey protein powder as it is well absorbed by the body. This is due to the fact that it’s packed full of amino acids and good nutrients that our bodies so desperately need. Plus, it’s easy on the system, is available without any additives and is tolerated well by almost everybody. Provided you stay away from proteins that have added sugar, it’s the perfect choice if you’re looking to not ruin the taste of the rest of your dish.
Now, salads are known to be rather healthy. They let you get those nutrients from all those leafy greens and they’ve become more and more popular over the years. However, sometimes the protein from them just isn’t enough to fill you up, satisfy your hunger, and keep you going throughout the day. That’s why we recommended experimenting with our hidden-protein salad dressing, which will help make all the difference.
Now, to make this hidden-protein salad dressing, you’ll need the following:
- 2 tbsp of grass fed whey protein powder
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 tbsp roasted red peppers
- 1 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Now when we say that it’s easy to make this recipe, we really mean that. Even if you have no redeemable skills in the kitchen, you’ll be able to whip this up in no time. The ingredients can be found in just about any super market and you can experiment with different types of mustard as well depending on your preferred taste. You may even have all the ingredients in your kitchen cupboards already.
Once you have all the ingredients, put them all into your food processor and blend until they’re thoroughly mixed. You should have a liquid that isn’t as thin as water of course, but has a nice consistently to be easily poured, just like the bottled salad dressing you would buy in the store. The big difference is this one will have that extra hidden ingredient that we bet no one at your dinner table will be able to guess – whey protein.
Use this dressing on your salads or even use it to marinate your meat – this hidden-protein dressing is the perfect way to sneak that extra bit of protein into your diet without feeling the overwhelming need for shakes or smoothies.