Lemon Balsamic Salad Dressing
Lemon balsamic salad dressing combines the tangy taste of balsamic vinegar and lemon with the sweetness of honey. This simple salad dressing is so versatile and takes less than 5 minutes to make.
Lemon Balsamic Salad Dressing
Lemon balsamic salad dressing is the most commonly made salad dressing in our home. I typically always have these ingredients on hand and it is very easily to throw together while preparing a meal. When you pick up a salad dressing at the store, the list of ingredients can be a mile long. Many of the ingredients, I can’t even pronounce! This salad dressing uses only 6 wholesome ingredients.
Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Fresh lemon juice
- Honey
- Salt and pepper
How to make lemon balsamic salad dressing
- In a mason jar or small bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Close mason jar and shake. Or use a small whisk or spoon to mix all the ingredients.
* The honey can stick to the bottom, so make sure it is mixed in!
Why you will love this recipe
Simple, wholesome ingredients: with this salad dressing you know exactly what you are eating. If you look at the ingredients on the back of a store bought salad dressing you will see a lot of ingredients listed. This recipe combines 6 simple ingredients to provide the perfect salad dressing.
Tangy, yet sweet: I have tweaked this dressing several times. If diluted too much with olive oil it won’t have much taste. This recipe has a perfect flavor of balsamic mixed with the sweetness of honey. It complements a salad perfectly.
What does lemon balsamic salad dressing taste like?
This dressing has a tangy taste with a bit of sweetness. The more intense tangy flavor comes from the balsamic and lemon. The honey really helps cut the tang and makes the dressing not sour. You can easily add more of an intense and tangy flavor by adding an additional 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar.
Keep in mind that your salad dressing will taste differently dispersed across an entire salad. You will be tasting the dressing combined with the flavors of lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and so forth. Therefore, I like to have the salad dressing have a more “powerful” taste alone in the jar and then when poured out across the salad it will be more mild.
Is this dressing a vinaigrette?
Yes! A vinaigrette is mixing an oil with a vinegar. The use of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice create a vinaigrette.
FAQ
What can I use to mix the dressing? My personal favorite is a milk frother. It blends all the ingredients perfectly, including the honey! You may be thinking – isn’t a milk frother for milk? It can be, but I own one and use it for dressings, smoothies, and protein powder. It is a versatile and cheap little tool!
You can also use a small whisk. If you don’t have any of these on hand give it a good swirl with a spoon or shake in a mason jar.
How does this store? Store in an airtight container (I prefer mason jar) in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Substitutions
Olive oil: Can easily be swapped for avocado oil
Balsamic vinaigrette: White wine vinegar
What to serve it with
Lemon balsamic dressing serves well over any types of greens/salad. Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, or arugula to name a few.
You can also use it for a topping on this tortellini pasta salad.
How to store lemon balsamic dressing
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Once the dressing has been in the fridge for a bit, the oil will solidify. Warm it up to liquify the oil again. I run the mason jar under warm water for about 30 seconds and then shake well to combine all the ingredients again.
More add-ins
Other ingredients that go well in this salad dressing include a clove of garlic (minced) or 1 tsp. of Dijon mustard or honey Dijon mustard. I have made this dressing with these add-ins before, but these have a stronger flavor profile. Make sure you really like the taste of garlic or Dijon mustard before adding!
More uses
- A delicious chicken marinade
- To dip fresh, crispy bread in
- To top a pasta salad with
- My kids also use it as a dip for cucumbers and carrots
Lemon Balsamic Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp. balsamic dressing
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. honey
- Pinch of salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a mason jar or small bowl, combine all ingredients.
- Close mason jar and shake. Or use a small whisk or spoon to mix all the ingredients.
