A Simple Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe For Every Day of the Week
Julia Child was right: making homemade salad dressing is easier than you may think, and this recipe proves it. With a handful of simple ingredients, you will be able to whip up the best balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a dressing that is tangy and brings life to more than just salads. It’s so good, you’ll forget why you ever bothered with the store-bought version.
What Is Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing Made Of?
Balsamic vinaigrette ingredients really are simple, and might already be in your pantry:
Balsamic vinegar: The namesake of this vinaigrette, a good balsamic vinegar will be your key to success. It adds bold flavor to the core of this balsamic vinaigrette.
Stone-ground mustard: Also called whole-grain mustard, adds some texture as the seeds are ground less-finely than in Dijon or a classic, yellow mustard.
Shallot: We love shallots, which typically add a potent punch of onion, but their intensity is mellowed by the vinegar and melds perfectly for this dressing.
Olive oil: To provide a nice, thick texture to the vinaigrette and deepen the rich flavors.
Honey: To help the oil and vinegar emulsify (or come together cohesively). Honey also adds a counterpoint to the vinegar, mustard and shallots.
Salt and pepper: Always and forever seasoning is key. Vinaigrettes need a little S&P to make all those tasty flavors pop!
How To Make Balsamic Vinaigrette
Get ready to make the best balsamic vinaigrette in no time:
Add measured ingredients to a glass jar.
Mince shallots, add to other ingredients in the jar, and close with a lid.
Shake it up!
Our Case For Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
Homemade honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing takes just minutes to make, and is healthier than buying dressing from the store. Making this healthy balsamic vinaigrette recipe is worth the minimal effort it takes to pull together because it is delicious and doesn’t have the added ingredients that keep store-bought options longer lasting on the shelf. This easy balsamic vinaigrette is just a few ingredients shaken together in a jar!
What Do You Put Balsamic Vinaigrette On?
The short answer: EVERYTHING! Of course, this recipe is great for a classic balsamic vinaigrette salad. The complexity of balsamic vinaigrette is versatile enough to complement salads with fruit, like our Burrata Salad with Summer Berries & Pistachios or Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad. We love this recipe because it’s also more than just a dressing for salad. It pairs perfectly with roasted vegetables, like Brussels sprouts or carrots, and as a seasoning prior to cooking or as a finishing glaze before serving. If you’re thinking to yourself, “I wonder if balsamic vinaigrette dressing would be good on this?” The answer is most likely a resounding “Yes!”
Tools You’ll Need
Now That You Are a Pro at Making Homemade Dressing, Let’s Make More!
Now that you’ve gotten the hang of making this recipe for balsamic vinaigrette, let’s try a few of our other favorite (and easy) dressings to make!
Dress It Up, Dress It Down, Use That Vinaigrette All Around!
Since there are endless ways to use this balsamic vinaigrette recipe, we want to see what you do with it! Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Happy eating!
