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    Home » Sauces

    Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

    Published: Aug 9, 2021 · Modified: Dec 27, 2024 by Sula · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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    pin for balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing.

    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!

    small pitcher pouring balsamic vinaigrette onto a plate of salad greens
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love this Balsamic Salad Dressing
    • Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients
    • How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette
    • How to Store Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
    • How to Use Balsamic Salad Dressing
    • Homemade Balsamic Dressing FAQs
    • 📖 Recipe

    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

    ingredients:honey, balsamic vinegar, dijon mustard, olive oil, shallot, garlic, salt & pepper
    reminder to scroll to the recipe card for details.

    How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette

    1. This dressing will take you 5 minutes flat to make. That includes mincing the shallot and garlic and measuring everything out.
    2. Put all the ingredients in a small blender or food processor. Start with 1 Tablespoon of honey so you can adjust as needed.
    adding ingredients to small blender cup.
    1. 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.
    ingredients getting blended.

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    1. 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!
    2. 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
    blended balsamic vinaigrette ready to pour into a jar.

    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!

    balsamic vinaigrette dressing in a small jar
    pouring balsamic vinaigrette dressing onto a green salad.

    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

    Can you marinate chicken in balsamic vinaigrette dressing?

    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.

    Is balsamic vinegar the same as balsamic vinaigrette?

    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.

    Is balsamic vinaigrette sweet?

    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.

    a cruet of balsamic vinaigrette dressing ready to use.

    📖 Recipe

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    small pitcher pouring balsamic vinaigrette onto a plate of salad greens
    5 from 45 votes
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    Homemade Balsamic Dressing Recipe

    This easy 5 minute salad dressing will make your taste buds sing!
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Cook Time0 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 197kcal
    Author: Sula

    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

    Taste is highly dependent upon the balsamic vinegar used. A well-aged balsamic vinegar will taste sweeter and therefore require less honey.
    Recipe yields about one cup of salad dressing, and serving size is 2 tablespoons.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 197kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 20mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shari

      June 30, 2023 at 7:10 pm

      5 stars
      My FAVORITE new dressing!! Thank you.

      Reply
      • Sula

        July 01, 2023 at 3:49 pm

        You're so welcome, and thanks for the kind review!

        Reply
    2. Toni

      August 17, 2021 at 5:51 am

      5 stars
      I love how quick and easy this is to make!! Such a perfect vinaigrette!

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 17, 2021 at 8:37 am

        It's a keeper in this house!

        Reply
    3. Emily Flint

      August 16, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      This is my new go-to salad dressing. Thanks for the easy recipe!

      Reply
      • Sula

        August 16, 2021 at 4:08 pm

        You're welcome, it's mine too!

        Reply
    5 from 45 votes (42 ratings without comment)

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