When you need a quick salad dressing, balsamic vinaigrette is an easy choice.
Lovers of vinaigrette know that it is sweet and tangy with a smooth and silky texture, and it works on so many salads, especially anything with fruit!
And there’s something so satisfying about making it yourself. You can customize the flavor to suit your preferences, like adding or omitting garlic, onion or other flavors.
Homemade is always better, and no one needs to know how easy it was to make!
Why You'll Love this Balsamic Salad Dressing
We are big fans of balsamic vinaigrette in this house. It’s been my go-to salad dressing for years! And what’s even better is that it’s so easy to make, with ingredients I always have on hand.
It’s a great alternative to bottled salad dressings. They are convenient and delicious, but when you read that ingredient list? It gives you a lot to think about. Good reason to use homemade whenever feasible.
As you will see below, it’s also easy to customize to your specific tastes. Balsamic vinaigrette dressing will be a blend of sweet and tangy, and you can adjust to the right balance with the amount of honey you add.
Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients
How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette
- This dressing will take you 5 minutes flat to make. That includes mincing the shallot and garlic and measuring everything out.
- Put all the ingredients in a small blender or food processor. Start with 1 Tablespoon of honey so you can adjust as needed.
- Blend on medium to high speed for about a minute, until all ingredients are well incorporated. Give the dressing a quick taste. If the balsamic or mustard taste is too sharp, add a little more honey and blend again. Up to two tablespoons honey might be needed, depending upon the balsamic vinegar you are using. It is best to start with the lesser amount and add as needed.
Would you like to save this recipe?
I'll email this post to you, so you can easily come back to it later!
- If you don’t want to use a blender, whisking by hand will also work. Or, just put everything in a Mason jar, put the lid on tight and shake like crazy!
- I must admit, I prefer using a blender simply to help chop up the little pieces of shallot and garlic more than I accomplished with my knife. Plus, it helps to emulsify the liquids, producing a silky texture that I love. It’s possible that I lack the patience to whisk and/or shake long enough to get that same texture by hand. LOL
Balsamic Vinegar – Aged is Better
I’ve always heard that “aged” balsamic vinegar is so much better than the regular kind, but never understood why. Until I started making my own balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Then the difference became clear.
In the store where I shop, they stock a variety of brands and sizes of balsamic vinegar. All seem to imply that a certain amount of “aging” has taken place.
So, instead of reading the labels, I start with the price tags. Usually, a well-aged balsamic vinegar will cost significantly more than the others. After that, I do read the label of course, but the price filter narrows things down much more quickly.
And you might be asking, what is the difference? Here is what I have found: the taste of a well-aged balsamic vinegar is rich, smooth and much sweeter than the regular kind.
When making this vinaigrette dressing, it means you need less honey to get the right balance of sweet and tart. That’s why I list a range of honey needed. For “the good stuff” I only use one tablespoon of honey. When using a less aged balsamic vinegar, I need at least two tablespoons to get the taste I expect.
Ever since I discovered this, I’m afraid I’ve become a bit of a balsamic vinegar snob. I only buy the good stuff now. To keep your budget in line, you might want to stick with the other stuff and just add more honey. LOL #nojudging
How to Store Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Keep the dressing in a covered container in the refrigerator. I like to put it in a small jar with a lid. It should keep for a couple weeks in the fridge, if it lasts that long.
After a time, the oil might separate but you only need to give the jar a good shake and your dressing is ready to go!
How to Use Balsamic Salad Dressing
On salads, of course! I love it on a simple salad of greens and tomato, but when you want something more, try a beet salad with goat cheese or a strawberry walnut salad. Both are incredible with this homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing!
Homemade Balsamic Dressing FAQs
Yes, balsamic vinaigrette makes an excellent marinade for chicken! The acidity from the vinegar helps tenderize the meat while the oil and seasonings add flavor. Just let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to a few hours in the fridge before cooking.
No, they’re not the same. Balsamic vinegar is a single ingredient—a rich, slightly sweet vinegar made from grape must. Balsamic vinaigrette, on the other hand, is a dressing made by combining balsamic vinegar with oil, a touch of sweetness like honey or sugar, and seasonings.
It can be! Balsamic vinaigrette typically has a hint of sweetness from the balsamic vinegar itself, which is naturally sweet, or from added ingredients like honey or maple syrup. The sweetness is balanced by the tangy vinegar and savory seasonings, making it versatile and flavorful.
📖 Recipe
Would you like to save this recipe?
I'll email this post to you, so you can easily come back to it later!
Homemade Balsamic Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup olive oil extra virgin
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1-2 Tablespoons honey *
- 1 tablespoon shallot minced (about ½ a medium shallot)
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients (start with 1 Tablespoon honey) to a small blender or food processor.¾ cup olive oil, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1-2 Tablespoons honey *, 1 tablespoon shallot, 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Blend ingredients at medium to high speed until well incorporated.
- Taste the dressing and adjust with a little more honey if needed.
- Store in the refrigerator in a covered jar.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Shari
My FAVORITE new dressing!! Thank you.
Sula
You're so welcome, and thanks for the kind review!
Toni
I love how quick and easy this is to make!! Such a perfect vinaigrette!
Sula
It's a keeper in this house!
Emily Flint
This is my new go-to salad dressing. Thanks for the easy recipe!
Sula
You're welcome, it's mine too!