Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette – Easy Dressing Recipe
Make your own homemade dressing! This easy Citrus-Balsamic Vinaigrette is a tangy dressing that is perfect with green salads.
This easy citrus vinaigrette recipe uses a special vinegar, white balsamic! I love white balsamic vinegar for its light, tart, sweet flavor. It’s the perfect addition to this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe, a light-colored balsamic dressing.
When I make salad dressings at home, it’s usually my top pick because I love the light, tangy flavor. Even if you don’t like the taste of balsamic vinegar, I think you might like white balsamic vinegar.
Traditional balsamic vinegar is slow simmered and aged in wooden barrels. In contrast, white balsamic vinegar is quickly pressure cooked and only aged for a brief amount of time.
Regular balsamic vinegar is thick, syrupy and intense in flavor. White balsamic vinegar has a light, milder flavor, and it’s a super versatile ingredient. I even put it in my barbecue sauce!
When in culinary class, we experimented with making our own dressings. I landed on two go-to dressing recipes, this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette, and my Apple Cider Vinaigrette! They are similar in flavor, but I think that my Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette is more all-purpose in how it can be used.
This wonderful dressing delicious with your special holiday salads, or on a simple salad in the hot summertime. Another great option for warm summer months is my Greek vinaigrette dressing.
I love to make my own salad dressings. It’s easy to do, and a great way to add tangy flavors to healthy recipes!
Best White Balsamic Vinegar Substitutes
Don’t have white balsamic vinegar? I’ve got you covered! There are so many good substitutes. For any of these different kinds of vinegar, you’ll substitute 1 for 1.
- Champagne vinegar
- Sherry vinegar
- Rice wine vinegar
- White vinegar
- Lemon juice (or lime juice)
- Red wine vinegar
- Traditional balsamic vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
But, I think the best substitute is Champagne vinegar.
Other Recipe Substitutions
Instead of honey, feel free to use maple syrup or agave nectar. You can also use a teaspoon of white sugar or brown sugar.
This dressing is also wonderful with fresh herbs! Try adding a hefty pinch of fresh chopped oregano, basil or parsley.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade salad dressing is absolutely wonderful on a green salad, especially summer salads! I recommend serving this citrus-balsamic dressing on a spinach salad with sliced almonds, pieces of Parmesan and delicious citrus fruit like mandarin oranges or fresh orange segments. It also pairs beautifully like arugula.
Serve the salad as a main course topped with smoked salmon, chicken, or as a side dish with your favorite grilled meat!
Leftover Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette Storage:
I store my dressing in the refrigerator in a container with a tight-fitting lid for up to 7 days. Remove it from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving and shake or whisk well to combine the ingredients before using.
Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Equipment
Instructions
- To a small bowl, add all of the ingredients. Whisk with a wire wisk to combine. Allow to sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve at room temperature or chilled.
I made this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette recipe yesterday and it was delicious. I used it on a mixed green salad and my husband thought it was great!