This simple White Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect everyday vinaigrette to keep in your fridge at all times. It pairs perfectly with every type of salad no matter how simple or complex.
Quick
Make-ahead
You’ll Learn: The steps for blending and emulsifying homemade salad dressings for creaminess
Worth It: Tastes great on any salad or roasted veggie
Bonus: Great for meal prep and make-ahead
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for meal prep – whenever I do my weekly meal prep I always make a batch of homemade salad dressing. It is the perfect thing for healthy lunches or to drizzle over roasted veggies. I love with white balsamic vinaigrette because it tastes good with every type of vegetable. It is bright, tangy, tart and savory.
- Healthier than store bought dressing – store bought salad dressings can have tons of extra, unnecessary ingredients. This homemade salad dressing is made with just 6 simple ingredients and tastes incredible
- Easily change up the ingredients – white balsamic vinegar is a favorite of mine because it is perfectly crisp and tart with just a hint of sweetness to balance it out, but you can always use a different type of vinegar for this salad dressing. You can also add a splash of maple syrup to sweet or some crushed red pepper to spice it up.
Serving Suggestions
This is my go to salad dressing for meal prep. It is the kind of thing that makes every salad taste better no matter what ingredients are in it. I particularly love it in a chopped salad.
I make some shredded chicken in the instant pot and homemade croutons from my overnight bread recipe. Then, I mix those with chopped romaine lettuce, pickled onions and any other vegetables I have in the fridge. This white balsamic dressing is the perfect addition to the big chopped salad.
I love to make a simple baby arugula and spinach salad with roasted beets, candied pecans and crumbled goat cheese. Just before serving I toss the salad in this white balsamic dressing. It is perfect for dinner parties. I like to serve it alongside this oven baked chuck roast recipe.
Ingredients
- Dijon mustard – mustard adds the perfect amount of saltiness and tang to this white balsamic vinaigrette. It also helps thicken and emulsify the mixture so that it stays creamy
- Lemon juice – use fresh squeezed lemon juice for the ideal bright and fresh flavor
- White balsamic vinegar – this is a key ingredient in this dressing, but if you prefer there are many other types of vinegar that you can use
- Kosher salt – add just enough salt to balance the acidity of the lemon juice and vinegar
- Fresh cracked black pepper – for a touch of spice. You can add other dry seasonings and spices for more flavor.
- Extra virgin olive oil – I always use a high quality olive oil for my homemade salad dressings to make them smooth, creamy, delicious and healthy.
Ingredient Substitutions
This white balsamic dressing recipe is as versatile as it is customizable. Change up the ingredients or add to them to alter the flavor slightly. White balsamic vinegar is my favorite vinegar to use in this dressing, but you can also use champagne vinegar, rice wine vinegar, red wine vinegar apple cider vinegar, or regular balsamic vinegar.
Add a handful of fresh herbs when blending to add a bright herbaceous flavor. The result is a delightfully bright green salad dressing. I like to use fresh basil in the summer when my garden is bursting.
Pour in just a tablespoon of maple syrup, honey or brown sugar for a touch of sweetness. For a bit of spice, add a splash of hot sauce or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes. Add a smashed fresh garlic clove or some garlic powder to the blender if you love a garlicky salad dressing.
You can also use this as a simple marinade for grilled meats in the summer. Toss some chicken breast in 1/4 cup of this dressing and let it sit for about 30 minutes before cooking on the grill.
How To Make
Step 1: Add ingredients to a blender
To begin, add dijon mustard, lemon juice, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to a high speed blender. Then, blend on medium until all of the ingredients are evenly combined.
Step 2: Blend until smooth
Next, while the blender is running on medium-low speed, slowly pour the olive oil into the blender in a steady stream and keep blending as a smooth mixture forms.
Then, increase the speed of the blender a little to thicken and emulsify the dressing. Finally, pour the dressing into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator
Storage
After this dressing is blended and emulsified I like to store it in wide mouth glass jars. Then, I store the mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I like to replace the metal mason jar lids with plastic ones to prevent rust while storing the dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dressing without a blender?
Yes, but do not try to make it in a bowl with a whisk. Instead, pour all of the ingredients into a glass jar and shake vigorously until the dressing is fully emulsified.
What’s the difference between balsamic vinegar and white balsamic vinegar?
Dark balsamic vinegar is thicker and more syrupy. It is also sweeter than white balsamic vinegar. If you don’t want to color something dark brown, it is best to use white balsamic vinegar. White balsamic is less sweet than dark balsamic and less acidic than red wine vinegar.
Check Out These Other Salad Dressing Recipes
As always, if you make this dressing, please leave a rating and review below of let me know on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar*
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Add dijon mustard, lemon juice, white balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to a high speed blender
- Blend on medium until all of the ingredients are evenly combined
- While the blender is running on medium-low slowly pour the olive oil into the blender in a steady stream and keep blending as a smooth mixture forms
- Increase the speed of the blender a little to thicken and emulsify the dressing.
- Pour the dressing into a glass jar and store in the refrigerator
Recipe Notes
- *Use any kind of vinegar that you like. I like white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, regular balsamic or white balsamic best
- store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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