Try drizzling something homemade on your next salad! This Honey-Balsamic Dressing is tangy and sweet, with minimal ingredients.
Oil-based salad dressings are so easy to make at home, it’s honestly strange to me how many there are on grocery store shelves. Sure, there are lots of flavors we might not bother with at home, and those dressings may not require any shaking before you use them (due to all the thickeners and additives). But you might be surprised by how much flavor you can get from a homemade salad dressing.
Using ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen, you can make your own delicious emulsion of salad dressing in about five minutes. Look around in your pantry and refrigerator. If you have olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper, you already have everything you need! It’s just waiting to be emulsified with a good, long shake.
This honey-balsamic dressing recipe is a take on that basic combination of ingredients and flavors. Balsamic vinegar is on the sweeter end of vinegars and can be a bit thick, depending on which kind you get. Honey adds a sweetness that cuts pleasantly through vinegar, and the Dijon mustard gives the dressing a tang while also making the dressing easier to emulsify. The only equipment you need is a mason jar and some arm muscles!
Is This Honey-Balsamic Dressing Healthy?
This honey-balsamic dressing is made with wholesome pantry staples like honey, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Honey is a natural form of sugar, and the amount of sugar per serving in this dressing isn’t unhealthy. Balsamic vinegar is rich in antioxidants and adds a lot of flavor for its minimal calorie content. Olive oil contains healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, and Dijon mustard is a low-calorie condiment. Overall, this recipe is vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free. To make it vegan, simply swap the honey for agave nectar or maple syrup.
Dress It Up!
I love a good balsamic vinegar salad dressing like this one, especially when it adds a little sweetness. But homemade salad dressings can definitely be a build-your-own sort of thing, too. Stretch your imagination, consider what you like and don’t like in a salad dressing, and compile your dream salad dressing! Here are a few tips to dress up your dressing.
- If you like salty dressings, swap the honey out for apple cider vinegar and add half a teaspoon of tamari or soy sauce. This will give you a less sweet, saltier dressing.
- For more of an onion and herb flavor, add dried onions, dried oregano, and garlic powder. Let this mixture sit out at room temperature for an hour or so to let the onions and herbs rehydrate.
- Not a fan of balsamic vinegar? Swap it out with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for a lighter flavor that’s still a bit sweet.
- If you like fruity flavors, add a tablespoon or two of your favorite fruit juice—and bonus points if you can find fruit powder. I stick with strawberry, orange, raspberry, or pomegranate flavors, personally.
Can I Prep This Ahead?
This dressing is meant to be prepped ahead of time. It can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container or mason jar for up to 2 weeks. Take the dressing out of the fridge 5 minutes or so before you want to use it, and make sure to shake it or stir it well before serving, as the ingredients will settle.
Serving Suggestions
Honey-balsamic dressing tastes amazing with richer, more earthy flavors like nuts, cheeses, and dried fruits. Because of this, I’d recommend using it to dress complementary salads, such as Kale Salad With Cranberries, this Spinach Salad, a Winter Salad with pomegranate arils, or Chicken Salad With Avocado And Candied Pecans.
Aside from salads, honey-balsamic dressing is also an amazing dip for warm, crusty bread and can be a great addition to your favorite charcuterie boards. Try drizzling it over soft cheeses, like brie and goat cheese.
Recipe
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a mason jar, and secure the lid tightly.
- Shake the jar vigorously for about 30 seconds until the dressing is well emulsified and slightly thickened.
- Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
Leave a Comment