White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Name: White Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: PT-479439H34M17S
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ tablespoon honey; 1 teaspoon dijon; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ black pepper; ⅓ cup white balsamic vinegar; ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

by Erica on August 2, 2024 1 comment

Jump to Recipe· 5 from 1 review

Featuring a handful of wholesome ingredients, you’ll want to drizzle this simple white balsamic vinaigrette on everything from green salad to rice bowls to grilled chicken and beyond!

mason jar with white balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Jump to:

1 Erica’s thoughts:
1. 1.1 Okay let me tell you why I will never stop trying to convince you to make your dressings at home:
2 Ingredients you’ll need to make this white balsamic vinaigrette dressing:
3 Equipment you need to make your own salad dressings:
4 How to make:
5 Expert tips and variation ideas:
6 FAQs
7 Love this white balsamic vinaigrette recipe? Check out these other delicious homemade dressings:
8 White Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Erica’s thoughts:

If you’ve followed for any length of time then you’ll know, I’m all about homemade salad dressings. And if you’re new here, hi hello I’m so happy you’re here, I’m Erica and I’m a from-scratch dressing type of gal, nice to meet ya.

Okay let me tell you why I will never stop trying to convince you to make your dressings at home:

They really are so easy to make. Once you have your basic arsenal of simple ingredients like vinegars, oil, honey, Dijon, mayo, seasonings and citrus you can whisk together a delicious vinaigrette in less than 60 seconds.
You’ve got control! When you make your own dressings you get to control the amount of salt, sugar, fat, seasonings, etc. You can’t say the same about store-bought dressings!
The flavorrrr baybay. You will be astonished how DELICIOUS a simple mix of lemon juice, honey, minced fresh garlic clove and swish of olive oil can be!

Easy, healthy and flavorful!? That’s all the reason I need!

Let’s talk about how to make today’s recipe!

picture of extra virgin oliveoil, white balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, salt and pepper- ingredients needed to make white balsamic vinaigrette

Ingredients you’ll need to make this white balsamic vinaigrette dressing:

White balsamic vinegar: white balsamic vinegar is a mild, sweet-tart, lighter color vinegar made from white grapes and aged for a shorter time than traditional balsamic vinegar. You can find it with the other vinegars in the vinegar aisle of the grocery store.

Extra-virgin olive oil: Get the good stuff! In dressings, you can taste the olive oil so grab a good quality one. I love the Kirkland organic olive oil from Costco or this one.

Honey: a touch of honey provides sweetness and balance in this dressing. In a pinch you could use an alternative sweetener like cane sugar, maple syrup or agave nectar.

Dijon mustard: Dijon acts as the emulsifier for this vinaigrette and provides a subtle tang. You can find it in the condiments aisle at the grocery store. You could also use whole grain mustard.

Salt and pepper: pinches of salt and pepper lift the overall flavor. I like to use kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper.

Equipment you need to make your own salad dressings:

Not much! A salad shaker is a great option but if you don’t have one a mason jar works perfectly. Many dressings only require a whisk or a good shake but an immersion blender or food processor are super handy tools.

All you need for this recipe is a jar and some arm strength to shake everything together.

How to make:

hand pouring vinegar from a liquid measuring cup into a jar

In a glass jar or small bowl, add the dijon, honey, salt, pepper and white balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Add the olive oil and shake or whisk until well emulsified.

hand pouring olive oil from a liquid measuring cup into a mason jar with other salad dressing ingredients

mason jar with unmixed salad dressing ingredients

Taste and season with another pinch of salt and pepper or squeeze of honey, if needed, per your taste.

hand shaking a jar of white balsamic vinaigrette

jar of emulsified white balsamic vinaigrette

Serve on a simple salad, as the marinade for chicken or fish, drizzled over rice bowls or roasted vegetables.

Expert tips and variation ideas:

Nearly any type of vinegar will work here. Try regular balsamic vinegar for a traditional balsamic vinaigrette or use apple cider vinegar, champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar.
If you omit the Dijon mustard and black pepper, this is a lovely sweet dressing for fruit salad.
Swap out the vinegar for fresh lemon juice or lime juice for a citrus dressing.
Add parmesan cheese, Italian seasonings, finely chopped shallot or fresh garlic for additional boosts of flavor!

jar of white balsamic vinaigrette with a large summer salad

FAQs

How should I store this dressing?

Store in an airtight container or jar at room temperature for up to three days, or in the fridge for up to two weeks. Note that the olive oil may harden in the fridge, if so, let it sit out for a few minutes and give it a vigorous shake. Separation is totally normal.

What should I use this white balsamic dressing on?

Any green salad (but I love an arugula spinach salad!), roasted vegetables, fruit salad, rice bowls, as a dipping sauce for raw veggies or as a marinade for chicken breast, shrimp, salmon or white fish.

How can I make this vegan?

Use agave nectar instead of honey.

What if I can’t find white balsamic vinegar?

Use white wine vinegar, golden balsamic vinegar, traditional balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar or red wine vinegar.

pouring white balsamic dressing on spinach arugula salad

Love this white balsamic vinaigrette recipe? Check out these other delicious homemade dressings:

If you try and like this recipe please don’t forget to leave a comment and star rating down below! If you love more lifestyle, behind the scenes and ‘eating in real life’ type of content come find me over on Instagram, @itsaflavorfullife, I love connecting with you all there!