Balsamic Honey Salad Dressing (Vinaigrette)

This balsamic honey salad dressing offers a perfectly balanced taste, combining natural sweetness with a bright, tangy acidity. It's a delicious choice for salads and vegetables.

Why You'll Love This Balsamic Honey Salad Dressing Recipe

This balsamic honey salad dressing is a go-to vinaigrette in our kitchen, perfect for enhancing the flavors of everyday salads and vegetables. We especially love how its balanced sweet and tangy notes complement our spinach and arugula salad with strawberries and goat cheese. There's truly no comparison – making homemade salad dressing offers a far superior flavor and the invaluable benefit of complete control over every single ingredient, something you simply don't get with store-bought salad dressing. Here are more reasons why you will love this honey balsamic vinaigrette recipe:

• This honey balsamic vinaigrette dressing is simple to make. Making homemade dressings is surprisingly simple and allows you to use healthy, wholesome ingredients. 
• You can adjust the flavors of this delicious dressing to your liking. While typical homemade vinaigrettes use a larger proportion of oil, often in a 3:1 ratio with vinegar, this honey balsamic dressing achieves a balanced 1:1 ratio. This is successful because balsamic vinegar naturally offers a touch of sweetness and a milder tang compared to other vinegars. Keep in mind that you can always adjust the ingredients to suit your taste, making this a highly adaptable dressing.

Balsamic Honey Salad Dressing Ingredients

To create this delicious vinaigrette, you will need the following pantry ingredients:

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil contributes a smooth, rich flavor that coats the palate. It also helps to soften the intensity of the vinegar. For a more neutral taste, avocado oil makes an excellent alternative.
• Vinegar: The combination of balsamic vinegar and apple cider vinegar provides a nice balance of tang and acidic flavor profile for this dressing.
• Honey: Adds a touch of sweetness to this dressing, which complements its tangy flavors. If you prefer, maple syrup is a good substitute.
• Dijon Mustard: Acts as an emulsifier, helping to combine the oil and vinegar for a smooth and creamy texture in the vinaigrette.
• Seasoning: Don't forget a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper; these simple additions significantly enhance the overall taste of the dressing.

Find the printable recipe card with full instructions and measurements below.

How To Make Balsamic Honey Salad Dressing

To prepare this honey balsamic dressing, follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Combine all of the ingredients. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to a small bowl.

• Step 2: Emulsify the dressing. Whisk the ingredients thoroughly until they are completely combined and the vinaigrette becomes fully emulsified, resulting in a creamy and smooth texture. Store any leftover dressing in a glass jar.

Expert Tips

Here are some tips for making a delicious balsamic honey salad dressing:

• Use Good Quality Balsamic Vinegar: The quality of your balsamic vinegar will significantly impact the final flavor. Look for a vinegar without added sugar or caramel color. Older, more expensive balsamic vinegars will have greater depth and sweetness.
• Choose a Good Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds a lovely flavor and richness. However, if you prefer a milder taste, you can use another neutral oil like avocado. 

Ways To Use Balsamic Honey Vinaigrette

Balsamic honey dressing is a versatile condiment that goes beyond just salads. Here are several ways to use it:

• Classic Greens:  It's the perfect addition for simple mixed green salads, especially with peppery greens like arugula or spinach, which add extra flavor.
• As a Marinade: Marinate chicken breasts, thighs, or wings before grilling, baking, or pan-frying for a sweet and tangy flavor.  
• As a Finishing Sauce or Drizzle: While my go-to for enhancing dishes like roasted asparagus and burrata caprese salad is often a drizzle of caramelized balsamic glaze, this honey balsamic dressing serves as a fantastic and conveniently available alternative that delivers equally delicious results. It's a great balance of tang with a bit of sweetness.

Storage Instructions

• Storage: For optimal freshness, store this homemade balsamic dressing in a tightly sealed, glass airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 
• Important Note: Keep in mind that vinaigrettes will naturally separate over time. Additionally, those made with olive oil may solidify in the fridge due to the cold temperatures. To fix this, simply let the dressing sit at room temperature or gently warm it in the microwave for 5-8 seconds until liquidized, then give it a good shake or whisk to re-emulsify before using.

More Recipes You'll Love

• Balsamic Glaze: Don't underestimate the flavor of this delicious caramelized balsamic glaze, a personal favorite! It's amazing how so much flavor can be achieved with just one ingredient! Drizzle over the top of a simple side salad, roasted vegetables, and caprese.
• Spinach and Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Goat Cheese: We recommend pairing this balsamic vinaigrette with our spinach and arugula salad, featuring strawberries and goat cheese

I hope you love this balsamic honey salad dressing recipe as much as I do! If you make it, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.

Recipe