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This fig balsamic dressing is sweet and tangy and a beautiful way to elevate any salad. It has a thick, glossy texture that evenly coats salad greens, giving them tons of flavor and improving the nutrient absorption of all those great salad vitamins and antioxidants.

In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to make it, some tips for the perfect vinaigrette, variation ideas and all of the versatile ways you can use this delicious dressing.

small glass teapot filled with fig balsamic dressing
Jump to:
  1. 1 Why you’ll love this fig balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing:
  2. 2 What you need to make it:
  3. 3 How to make:
  4. 4 What are some other ways to use this balsamic fig dressing beyond just salads?
  5. 5 FAQs:
  6. 6 I recommend this delicious dressing on:
  7. 7 If you love this, you’ll love these other homemade salad dressings:
  8. 8 Watch how to make:
  9. 9 Fig Balsamic Dressing
    1. 9.1 Description
    2. 9.2 Ingredients
    3. 9.3 Instructions
    4. 9.4 Notes
    5. 9.5 Would you like to save this?
    6. 9.6 Nutrition
    7. 9.7 Did you make this recipe?

Why you’ll love this fig balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing:

First and foremost, flavor. When you start making dressings at home with just a handful of good quality ingredients you will be absolutely SHOOK by how flavorful and irresistible these simple dressings make your food. A good dressing is a great way to make eating vegetables FUN and enjoyable!

Secondly, simplicity. this dressing requires simple ingredients that you may already have in your pantry. Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and fig preserves come together to make a restaurant-worthy dressing.

Third, utility. I’m quite sure you all know how tremendously beneficial it is to fill our daily diet with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. That’s because veggies contain a variety of vitamins, antioxidants and phytonutrients that have innumerable health benefits. And here’s the thing- those benefits are multiplied when you consume veggies with a source of fat. The olive oil in this dressing provides satisfaction, flavor and increased absorption of nutrients!

ingredients needed for the recipe

What you need to make it:

Extra virgin olive oil: opt for a high-quality extra virgin olive oil because when it comes to dressings- quality really matters! I like the extra virgin olive oil from Costco or the brands La Tourangelle, Pompeian or California Olive Ranch.

Balsamic vinegar: again, quality is key! Since tangy balsamic vinegar is our central flavor here, opt for a nice balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar can be found in the oil and vinegar aisle of the grocery store. At specialty oil and vinegar stores you can even find fig balsamic vinegar which would be PERFECT.

Fig jam: fig jam, also called fig preserves or fig butter, provides luscious fig flavor and sweetness to balance out this dressing. You’ll find it in the jam/honey/sweeteners section of the grocery store.

Dijon mustard: oil and vinegar naturally oppose each other- they will stay separate even when combined in the same bowl or jar. Dijon mustard works as the emulsifier to combine these two ingredients into a cohesive sauce.

Garlic: a clove of freshly grated garlic dissipates throughout the dressing providing amazing opposing flavor to the sweet flavor of fig. I like to use a microplane to finely grate the garlic.

Kosher salt: the purpose of salt is to lift the flavors of all the other ingredients- just a pinch of salt goes a long way!

Black pepper: another way to lift and compliment the other flavors, black pepper!

olive oil being poured into the balsamic vinegar

How to make:

In a small bowl, salad shaker or mason jar, add the sweet fig jam, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil.

adding salt and pepper to the jar of dressing ingredients

There are a couple of different ways to mix the dressing together:

  1. If you’re using a jar place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously.
  2. Use a whisk to whisk until smooth.
  3. Use an immersion blender to blitz the dressing to creamy perfection (this is my preferred way)
process of blending the dressing using an immersion blender

What are some other ways to use this balsamic fig dressing beyond just salads?

I’M GLAD YOU ASKED. So many good options here!

  • Drizzle over roasted sweet potatoes, butternut squash or Brussels sprouts. Finish with a crumble of goat cheese and a handful of fresh herbs.
  • Use on a Caprese salad or in bruschetta
  • Add a splash to caramelized onions
  • Drizzle on pizza
  • Use as a marinade for grilled chicken breast
  • Serve as a dip or drizzle for cheese platters or charcuterie boards
  • You can even drizzle some over fresh fruit salad (omit the garlic if you go with this option!)
small glass teapot with balsamic fig dressing

FAQs:

Can I use fresh figs instead of fig jam?

I wouldn’t recommend it. However, this fig balsamic dressing drizzled over a big green salad with fresh figs IN it sounds amazing.

How should I store the leftover dressing?

Keep in a jar with a tight-fitting lid or an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Can I use a different type of sweetener?

Yes if you don’t have or can’t find fig jam I recommend honey, pure maple syrup or agave. Reduce the quantity to one tablespoon as those are all more concentrated sources of sweetness than fig jam.

kale, apple, walnut and spinach salad with small pot of fig balsamic dressing

I recommend this delicious dressing on:

Kale and Spinach Salad with apples and white cheddar (pictured)

Caramelized Onion Brie Chicken

Roasted Veggie Power Bowls

Fried Feta Nourish Bowls

Baty House Salad

If you love this, you’ll love these other homemade salad dressings:

Jalapeño Lime Vinaigrette

Spicy Cashew Dressing

Caesar Dressing

Creamy Sesame Dressing

pouring dressing on apple kale salad

Alright, now who’s craving a big fresh salad?!

Watch how to make:

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pouring fig balsamic dressing on salad

Fig Balsamic Dressing

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  • Author: Erica
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: NA
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: scant 1 cup 1x
  • Category: Dressings
  • Method: Whisk
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This fig balsamic dressing is tangy and slightly sweet with bold balsamic flavor. It is perfectly smooth and amazing on salad, roasted vegetables, sandwiches, pizza, caprese, bruschetta and beyond!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 tablespoons fig jam
  • 1/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 small clove garlic, finely minced or grated
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

Instructions

In a small bowl or mason jar, add the fig jam, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil.

Vigorously shake or whisk until smooth and emulsified. Or use an immersion blender to blitz the dressing until creamy. You may or may not want to thin with a tablespoon or so of water if your dressing is thicker than you like. The dressing will naturally be thicker after sitting in the fridge-add a splash of water, stir and you’re good to go!

Notes

For answers to frequently asked questions and lots of ideas for what to use this dressing on refer to the above blog post!

Nutritional information is an estimation and may vary slightly.

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 141
  • Sugar: 3.4 g
  • Sodium: 113.9 mg
  • Fat: 14 g
  • Carbohydrates: 4.8 g
  • Protein: 0.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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