Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

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Balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing is a very easy and delicious salad dressing that anyone can make. With just a few ingredients, you can make your own homemade salad dressing that’s healthier and more delicious than what you can purchase in a grocery store! 

Why make your own salad dressing? 

Salad dressings are one of the easiest and most delicious items that truly anyone can make. In most cases, any salad dressing can be made for MUCH cheaper than what you would buy in the store. This is especially important if you like to use a lot of dressing. 

Making your own salad dressing is also a great way to control the ingredients in your food. Store bought salad dressings are notorious for using mystery vegetable oils or fake sugars. 

Ingredients in a Balsamic Vinaigrette

Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture of a balsamic vinegar, liquid oil and other additions like spices, mustard and a sweetener. The balsamic vinaigrette is most often used as a salad dressing but it can also be used as a meat marinade. 

How to make a Balsamic Vinaigrette 

Making a balsamic vinaigrette is one of the easiest sauces to make. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a glass jar. Secure an air tight lid and give it a shake! Once the liquid has settled, your salad dressing is ready to use. 

Where to get Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar can be found in many grocery stores. They are usually placed near the olive oil and other cooking oils. 

When you are looking for balsamic vinegar, be sure to look at the ingredients. If possible, be sure to purchase a balsamic vinegar that does NOT have caramel color. Added caramel color should not be necessary for making a good balsamic vinegar.

If you cannot find a good balsamic vinegar at your local grocery store, I suggest you look at Azure Standard. Personally, I’ve found that they have great options for balsamic vinegar with great ingredients. 

Looking for more recipe inspiration? You might also enjoy Easy Italian Meatballs with Ground Beef or Homemade Blueberry Shrub!

How to Store Balsamic Vinaigrette

How you store this homemade salad dressing will highly depend on how quickly you anticipate using it. If you will be using the salad dressing within a week or so, you may be able to keep the salad dressing on your counter. If you anticipate using it intermittently across a month or so, I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator. 

When you store homemade salad dressing in the refrigerator, keep in mind that the oil in the dressing will separate and harden. I recommend that you take out the dressing a few hours before using. This will allow the oil to warm up so it can be reincorporated by shaking. 

If you forget to take out the salad dressing ahead of time, you can run the bottle under some warm water until the oil melts a bit. After you see the oil has started to melt, shake the jar until well incorporated.

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The Shelf life of Homemade Salad Dressing

Homemade salad dressing has a shorter shelf life than a store bought version. It’s best to prepare your salad dressing as close to use as possible. However, if you’re in the salad season of the year, you may not want to prepare your dressing every day. 

If you prepare a larger amount of dressing for future use, I recommend using it as soon as possible. As a guideline, I suggest using all of the prepared salad dressing within 1-2 months. If you make enough to last for 1-2 months, be sure to store in the refrigerator between uses. 

Ingredients and Tools

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• 1 cup Balsamic Vinegar
• ¾ cup Avocado or olive oil
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard 
• 1 tbsp Honey or maple syrup (optional but recommended) 
• 1 ½ tsp each dried basil, oregano and garlic powder 
• 1 tsp Salt – I Like to use Redmond Real Salt for the minerals
• ½ tsp pepper 

A pint canning jar with an airtight lid

Measuring cups and spoons

Directions

Add all ingredients into a pint jar.

Secure the air tight lid and shake well.

After the mixture has settled, your salad dressing is ready to use. 

Add your desired amount of dressing to your salad and enjoy!

Balsamic Vinaigrette FAQ:

Why make my own salad dressing? 

Salad dressings are one of the easiest and most delicious items that truly anyone can make. In most cases, any salad dressing can be made for MUCH cheaper than what you would buy in the store. This is especially important if you like to use a lot of dressing. 

Making your own salad dressing is also a great way to control the ingredients in your food. Store bought salad dressings are notorious for using mystery vegetable oils or fake sugars. 

What Are The Ingredients in Balsamic Vinaigrette?

Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture of a balsamic vinegar, liquid oil and other additions like spices, mustard and a sweetener. The balsamic vinaigrette is most often used as a salad dressing but it can also be used as a meat marinade. 

How is Balsamic Vinaigrette made?

Making a balsamic vinaigrette is one of the easiest sauces to make. Simply combine all of the ingredients in a glass jar. Secure an air tight lid and give it a shake! Once the liquid has settled, your salad dressing is ready to use. 

Where Can I Get Balsamic Vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar can be found in many grocery stores. They are usually placed near the olive oil and other cooking oils. 

When you are looking for balsamic vinegar, be sure to look at the ingredients. If possible, be sure to purchase a balsamic vinegar that does NOT have caramel color. Added caramel color should not be necessary for making a good balsamic vinegar.

If you cannot find a good balsamic vinegar at your local grocery store, I suggest you look at Azure Standard. Personally, I’ve found that they have great options for balsamic vinegar with great ingredients. 

How do I Store Balsamic Vinaigrette?

How you store this homemade salad dressing will highly depend on how quickly you anticipate using it. If you will be using the salad dressing within a week or so, you may be able to keep the salad dressing on your counter. If you anticipate using it intermittently across a month or so, I recommend keeping it in the refrigerator. 

When you store homemade salad dressing in the refrigerator, keep in mind that the oil in the dressing will separate and harden. I recommend that you take out the dressing a few hours before using. This will allow the oil to warm up so it can be reincorporated by shaking. 

I forgot to take my salad dressing out of the fridge before I needed it. How do I warm up the dressing fast?

If you forget to take out the salad dressing ahead of time, you can run the bottle under some warm water until the oil melts a bit. After you see the oil has started to melt, shake the jar until well incorporated.

What is The Shelflife of Homemade Salad Dressing?

Homemade salad dressing has a shorter shelf life than a store bought version. It’s best to prepare your salad dressing as close to use as possible. However, if you’re in the salad season of the year, you may not want to prepare your dressing every day. 

If you prepare a larger amount of dressing for future use, I recommend using it as soon as possible. As a guideline, I suggest using all of the prepared salad dressing within 1-2 months. If you make enough to last for 1-2 months, be sure to store in the refrigerator between uses.