A homemade salad dressing that brings together the perfect combination of the sweetness of the strawberries and the tangy balsamic vinegar, creating a truly summery vinaigrette. It's our favourite way to celebrate the strawberry season, as the vibrant flavours! Drizzle this Strawberry Balsamic Dressing over summer salads to give them an instant burst of flavour!
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Perfect Summer Salad Dressing
Nothing makes a better al fresco summer lunch than a green salad with strawberry dressing! Any good salad becomes truly great when paired with strawberry vinaigrette:
- 10 minutes of prep time.
- 4 simple ingredients that are available in any grocery store for this tasty dressing.
- Pairs well with a whole variety of summer salads - try it on watercress and strawberry salad!
- One of the finest choices when catering for various dietary requirements: vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free (just like our Lemon Basil Vinaigrette or Dijon Mustard Lemon Salad Dressing)!
- So much better than regular vinaigrette and a lot healthier than shop-bought dressing!
Ingredient Notes
- fresh strawberries: washed, hulled and roughly chopped.
- extra virgin olive oil: can be replaced with avocado oil, cold-pressed rapeseed or flaxseed oil.
- maple syrup: can be replaced with agave nectar or honey.
- balsamic vinegar: choose good quality aged balsamic vinegar for the best flavour.
Find the ingredient quantities, detailed instructions and nutritional information in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Step-By-Step Method
1. Place the fresh strawberry slices, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and a little bit of salt and black pepper in a bowl of a food processor or a powerful smoothie maker. Alternatively, place everything in a medium bowl and use an immersion blender.
2. Blitz everything into a smooth paste.
3. Add in the extra-virgin olive oil and blend until the dressing is thickened and emulsified.
4. Give your strawberry vinaigrette a quick taste and adjust the seasoning. Transfer the dressing to a jar and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
A Note On Emulsification
Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette is more than just a good vinaigrette; it's a creamy balsamic dressing achieved through the magic of emulsion. By blending the ingredients in a high-speed blender or food processor, you create a semi-permanent emulsion where the strawberry particulates remain suspended, ensuring they don't settle out right away.
This process not only enhances the thickness of the dressing but also produces superfine strawberry particles that lend a delightful creaminess to this exquisite vinaigrette.
Recipe Video
Serving Suggestions
Strawberry Balsamic Dressing pairs so well with a bunch of different salads. It's a great way to liven up a simple spinach salad, like our Baby Spinach And Courgette Ribbon Salad. Furthermore, this Strawberry Vinaigrette goes exceptionally well with fruity salads, like Cranberry Goat Cheese Salad or Strawberry Spinach Salad. You can also make a Strawberry Chicken Salad by swapping the creamy dressing in our Grilled Chicken and Peach Salad.
It is also a great alternative dressing for Spiced Paneer Salad or Mandarin and Halloumi Couscous Bowl.
Tips For Best Results
- Use ripe strawberries. Not only will ripeness ensure extra sweet strawberries, but you will likely have a dressing that is more vibrant in colour.
- Use white balsamic vinegar if you want a very red/ pink colour for your vinaigrette.
- Give your dressing a quick taste before serving. Add a squeeze of lemon juice for some extra tang, a drop of maple syrup for a hint of sweetness or a little Dijon mustard to make your dressing more savoury!
- Serve the strawberry balsamic dressing cold. Make it 10-15 minutes before serving and stick it in the fridge - it's more delicious when chilled.
- Only make the amount that you'll use. This sweet-tart dressing is best served on the day it's made, so don't make a big batch!
Recipe FAQs
While all vinaigrettes fall under the umbrella of salad dressings, not all dressings can be classified as vinaigrettes. What sets a vinaigrette apart is its composition, which consists of a harmonious blend of oil and acid. Personally, I prefer using olive oil as the oil component, while the acid element often derives its tangy notes from citrus fruits or various types of vinegar.
We made this recipe using fresh raspberries, but we sieved the dressing before adding oil and emulsifying to get rid of the raspberry seeds first. It's truly worth the effort though!
This balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing is best with fresh strawberries, but if they're out of season, make it with thawed strawberries instead. Your vinaigrette may be a bit more watery and may not emulsify as well.
Most likely. Whilst most balsamic kinds of vinegar are gluten-free, we always recommend checking the labels.
Storage
Store your Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette in an airtight container in the fridge and consume it within 48 hours. It is at its best on the day it is made though, but if you have leftovers, shake the leftover dressing in a jar to re-emulsify before using it the next day.
Other Homemade Dressings For Next Time
Did you enjoy this strawberry balsamic vinaigrette recipe? We sure hope you did. If you are looking for another perfect dressing for a luscious salad, here are some of our favourites:
- Pomegranate Molasses Vinaigrette (Easy Salad Dressing)
- Dijon Mustard Lemon Salad Dressing (Easy 5-Minute Recipe)
- Creamy Chipotle Salad Dressing
- Easy Maple Tahini Dressing Recipe
- Harissa Dressing
- Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing Without Anchovies
- Mango Chutney Dressing
Strawberry Balsamic Dressing
Equipment
- Food Processor or Powerful Smoothie Maker
Ingredients
- 100 g (¼ lb) strawberries roughly chopped
- 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon agave nectar or honey
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Place the fresh strawberry slices, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar and a little bit of salt and black pepper in a bowl of a food processor or a powerful smoothie maker. Blitz everything into a smooth paste.
- Add in the extra-virgin olive oil and blend until the dressing is thickened and emulsified. Give your strawberry vinaigrette a quick taste and adjust the seasoning.
- Transfer the dressing to a jar and refrigerate until you're ready to serve.
Video
Nutrition
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