FARGO 鈥� Balsamic vinaigrette is a staple salad dressing in our home, and I cannot believe it has taken me nearly 10 years to share my recipe with you.
I love making salad dressings from scratch, and this tangy vinaigrette is one of my favorite choices for transforming a simple pile of greens into a savory and delicious salad.
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I love the simplicity of this recipe, which consists of just seven ingredients: balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Balsamic vinegar has a specifically bold and tangy flavor that works well with other strong flavors, and you do not need to buy the best bottle to achieve a great result 鈥� even the store brand will work fine.
I use honey in many of my salad dressings, and this natural sweetener is a terrific way to thicken the dressing and a touch of sweetness to balance the punchy tang of the vinegar and create a lovely sweet-and-sour taste. Dijon mustard is another common ingredient in my vinaigrette repertoire, and here it further enhances the tart nature of the vinegar and serves as an emulsifier to help the dressing come together.
A clove of fresh garlic enriches this vinaigrette with spice and depth of flavor. Finely minced garlic is best for this recipe, and you can use a sharp knife, a grater or a garlic press to get this done. If you do not want to use fresh garlic, you can add a half teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
When making a vinaigrette, I often use an equal blend of vegetable and extra-virgin olive oils, but for this recipe I use only olive oil. The reason for this is twofold: first, extra-virgin olive oil brings great flavor to the dressing, and I recommend using the best quality you can find; and second, the thicker viscosity of the olive oil helps the dressing achieve a rich and velvety consistency.
Some recipes for balsamic vinaigrette recommend mixing it in a blender or food processor, but I find that whisking it by hand produces a thicker dressing, which I prefer. Whichever way you choose to mix it, be sure to add the olive oil last, in a slow and steady stream while mixing constantly, until the dressing becomes lighter in color and the ingredients are fully emulsified.
This balsamic vinaigrette will keep fresh in the refrigerator for about two weeks, and I store mine in a Mason jar so that I can easily give it a good shake before using. This is a wonderful dressing to have on hand for salads and sandwiches, and it also works well as a sauce or marinade for grilled vegetables, chicken and steak.
If you are looking for a new way to dress your salads, you are just seven ingredients away from having this rich and zesty Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette become a staple in your home. Enjoy!
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Reminder: The annual Mistra Estates Extra Virgin Olive Oil order season opens on Friday, July 15. You can find more information about the history of this liquid gold and how to order it at
Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette
Makes: about 1 cup
Ingredients:
- 录 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 陆 teaspoon kosher salt
- 陆 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Directions: In a medium bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper until well-combined, about 1 minute. Add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until fully emulsified, about 2 minutes. The dressing is ready when the color becomes lighter, and the ingredients are fully combined.
To store, transfer the dressing to a jar or other airtight container and refrigerate. This dressing will keep in the refrigerator for at least 2 weeks. Shake container or whisk vigorously before serving.
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