Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette
Tired of boring salads?! I’ve got you covered.
Salads are an excellent way to eat those veggies, but sometimes people forget how to jazz those veggies up! One way to jazz up salads is with a fantastic homemade salad dressing such as a fantastic balsamic vinaigrette recipe.
I promise salads don’t have to be boring! This dressing alongside some leafy greens, a bit of crunch, and some protein, will become a salad worth making again and again.
So, let’s make a salad dressing! In this article, I’ll guide you through the ingredients and steps of making this amazing salad dressing. I’ll also talk about why a homemade salad dressing can make a mediocre salad stand out as a five-star recipe.
Why I Love This Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette
Versatile: In my variation of a Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette, I use ingredients like Olive oil and Dijon Mustard. However, one could use a bit of mayo to provide a creamier salad dressing or use avocado oil for a more neutral flavor. Swap the Maple syrup for honey, or omit the sweet component entirely. You could even swap the fresh basil for dried, or add a bit of minced fresh garlic, the possibilities are seemingly endless.
Quick/Easy: This recipe is ready in a matter of minutes, including the recipe prep time! Moreover, all you need is a mason jar to shake up the ingredients!
The Ingredients in Balsamic Basil Dressing
- Balsamic Vinegar: Feel free to get extra fancy with a flavored or sweet balsamic vinegar like Fig or Cherry!
- Fresh Basil Leaves – dried basil works too, it’s just not as good as fresh
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil – or other super flavorful olive oil
- Dijon Mustard
- Maple Syrup
- Salt & Pepper
Yup, this dressing is 100% plant-based.
How to make this Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette: The Jar Method
My favorite method in making salad dressings, grain bowl sauces, and vinaigrettes is by using the jar method.
For the jar method, throw everything in that jar, pop a SECURE lid on it, and shake! Pour the sauce directly from the jar onto your salad. Then, when finished, store the leftover dressing for later use!
It’s that simple and easy!
Option to use an immersion blender or a whisk and a bowl.
How to Pair This Dressing
Because there is fresh basil in here, I recommend using this dressing within 2-3 days.
Some suggestions for the use of this dressing.
- A dressing for salads
- A sauce in grain bowls
- Spooned over grilled meat, fish, or tofu
- Drizzled over a bowl of cottage cheese
Sharper Nutrition Fix: Why is Salad dressing so important?!
One way to jazz up a salad is with a bangin’ salad dressing. I don’t know about you, but with salad, I dislike most store-bought bottled dressings. I think they are okay as a marinade or even a dipping sauce for pizza (aka ranch), but I just don’t like them with my salads and grain bowls!
This is why I love to make all sorts of salad dressings to bring variety, flavor, and excitement to my salads. Whether it’s blended in a food processor like my Creamy Vegan Apple Walnut Dressing, or a more simple approach, shaken up in a jar like this Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette, I’m always whipping something up. Trust me, making your dressing is key to a satisfying salad with loads of flavor.
5 reasons Why a Salad Dressing improves salads (& your diet)
A dressing enhances flavors.
A flavorful dressing can add depth and complexity to a salad. The dressing can provide a balance of sweet, salty, sour, tangy, and savory flavors.
It binds ingredients with moisture.
Salad dressings help bind and moisten the ingredients of the salad, thus making them more enjoyable to eat. The dressing coats each ingredient with flavor.
They are Nutritious.
Salad dressings can be made with olive oil, avocado oil, nuts & seeds, citrus juice, zest, vinegar (like apple cider vinegar), herbs, and spices. All of those ingredients bring nutritional value to the salad. They can provide healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds.
The dressing brings versatility to your diet.
Different dressings can completely change the flavor of a salad. A big bowl of spinach, shredded carrots, and sunflower seeds can be vibrant and tart with a lemon vinaigrette, or creamy and savory with a Creamy Cashew Caesar Dressing.
Last, those dressings encourage healthy eating!
That delicious dressing is covering other nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. Eating salads regularly can help increase your overall consumption of healthy foods that are not processed and loaded with nutrition. By having numerous salad dressings in your recipe queue, you can stay excited and enthusiastic about the salads you prepare and eat!
Salad Dressings are Love
I love salad dressings so much that I keep adding more and more recipes to The Addy Bean. They are an easy way to make a salad exciting! Below are some other excellent salad dressing recipes.
Creamy Vegan Apple Walnut Dressing
Cashew Caesar Dressing (No Mayo!)
Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette
Equipment
- 1 Jar with Lid
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 8 basil leaves, julienned or 1 tsp dried
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
Combine Ingredients
- Add all ingredients to a jar or bowl.
Whisk/Mix/Shake
- Screw on the lid of the jar and shake. If using a bowl, whisk all of the ingredients together.
Taste
- Taste and adjust the flavors as needed. I.e. add more salt, pepper, honey etc.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!
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