Green Garden & Brianna's Honey Mustard Dressings.

I’m into salad this week.  While writing my last column, “The Crunch Factor,” about gluten-free croutons, I realized that some attention should be given to the difficult task of finding gluten- and allergen-free salad dressings as well. 

 I will warn you, most of the all-natural allergen-free dressings are not cheap.  But you get what you pay for:  high quality ingredients, healthy products, and good flavor.  For this installment, I’m going to feature Honey Mustard.

 Please keep in mind that not only do I look for gluten-free products, but I also require foods free of soy, sesame, sunflower, tomato and celery (and eleven other foods).  There are actually salad dressings out there that fit that bill, and they taste good!

The first is Briannas Honey Dijon Mustard dressing.  I had become familiar with their products over the years at a salad bar at an organic food store, as well as at my best friend’s house.  She always keeps that brand in her refrigerator, so after carefully examining the label, I took the plunge and purchased a bottle.  Although the product does not say Gluten-Free on it, I was assured by a liaison at DelSol Foods that “our vendors guarantee that the ingredients are gluten free but since we do not test here in our plant, we do not make the claim on the bottles.”  I have not had an allergic reaction to their dressing to date. 

 The Briannas dressing is tart yet sweet.  There is a zesty Dijon flavor that alternates with a distinct honey.  I have used it on salads, sandwiches, and as a dipping sauce for bland, non-marinated meats. 

 While searching for a dressing to expand my selection, I came across Green Garden Natural Honey Mustard Salad Dressing.  None of my forbidden foods were on the list of ingredients, so I brought it home.  Again, the product does not state Gluten-Free directly on the package, so I wrote to the company for clarification.  I was told “Our Green Garden Natural Honey Mustard dressing…[does] not contain ingredients sourced from these grains [that contain gluten].”

 The Green Garden Honey Mustard is a creamy dressing with a mild flavor that borders on a sweet Caesar.  There is more herb taste than mustard.  It is a nice change from the “standard” honey mustard dressing.

 I even made my spouse, who is not gluten intolerant, taste test these.  He could not tell they were gluten- and soy-free, and said there was no after-taste.  He enjoyed them both, as did I. 

 The Briannas and Green Garden Honey Mustard dressings are both fresh tasting, priced comparably, and found in the salad dressing and refrigerated sections of your local grocery store. 

 Briannas Salad Dressings are sold through supermarkets and gourmet specialty food stores nationwide and in several foreign countries.  http://www.briannassaladdressing.com

 Green Garden products are predominantly available on the West Coast at the following food stores:  Safeway, Albertsons, QFC, Haggen, Top Foods, Ralphs, Thunderbirds, Yoke’s and Rosauers.  http://www.ggfoods.com/

 So, if you are looking for good tasting, allergen-free salad dressings, these products are for you!

 Product Information:

Briannas Ingredients:  canola oil, water, dijon mustard, honey, sugar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white onion powder, salt, modified tapioca starch, turmeric, mustard flour, natural flavor, xanthan gum, tocopherols, citric acid.

Green Garden Ingredients:  canola oil, water, honey, white distilled vinegar, prepared mustard, eggs, sugar, salt, cultured dextrose, spices, dehydrated onion, xanthan gum.

 For other Gluten-Free food information and lifestyle tips, check out www.celiacchicks.com

 K. S. Brooks is a guest blogger for CeliacChicks.com, an author and photographer.  © 2009