Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette

ByAlida Ryder Posted on Updated on
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This classic Balsamic Vinaigrette is a salad dressing every cook should have in their repertoire. It jazzes up a boring bag of store-bought lettuce in an instant and is ridiculously simple to make.

Balsamic Vinaigrette in a glass jar.

At its core, this is just balsamic vinegar, good olive oil, Dijon mustard, a touch of honey and some seasoning. That’s it. The Dijon helps emulsify the dressing so it stays together instead of separating, and the honey takes the edge off the vinegar’s sharpness and adds a beautiful subtle sweetness.

The key is getting the ratio right. I like three parts oil to one part vinegar, but you can play around with it depending on how tangy you like things.

Tips for the Best Vinaigrette

  • Quality balsamic matters. Try to get a good balsamic. You don’t necessarily need a super aged version (keep those for finishing a special dish), but avoid the super cheap versions that are mostly caramel coloring. A decent mid-range balsamic will make a big difference.
  • Whisk or shake vigorously. You want everything fully combined and slightly thickened. A jar with a tight lid makes this easy.
  • Season well. Don’t forget a generous pinch of salt and pepper. They bring all the flavors together.
Balsamic Vinaigrette poured over salad greens.
Grilled tomato caprese salad with Balsamic vinaigrette.

Serving Suggestions

This vinaigrette is perfect over mixed greens with goat cheese and walnuts, drizzled over caprese salad, tossed through roasted root vegetables or spooned over grilled steak or chicken. It’s also amazing as a simple marinade for vegetables before you roast them. Make a double batch on Sunday and you’ll have dressing ready to go all week.

Balsamic vinaigrette poured over mixed salad greens.

Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette

This classic Balsamic Vinaigrette is a salad dressing every cook should have in their repertoire. It jazzes up a boring bag of store-bought lettuce in an instant and is ridiculously simple to make.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Course: Salad dressing
Cuisine: American
Keyword: balsamic salad dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, balsamic vinegar salad dressing, easy salad dressing, homemade salad dressing, vinaigrette
Servings: 6 portions
Calories: 91kcal
Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
  • ½ tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients to a small jar.
  • Close and shake the jar vigorously until the vinaigrette is mixed well and slightly thickened.
  • Pour over salad of your choice.

Nutrition

Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Sodium: 394mg | Potassium: 10mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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