Liven up any salad in minutes with this fresh strawberry basil vinaigrette made with strawberries, basil, honey, apple cider vinegar and olive oil. All you need is a blender!
What I love about this strawberry vinaigrette recipe
When you make your own salad dressing, you get to control the ingredients that not only go into it, but also the ones you want to avoid. Surprisingly, there are plenty of hidden ingredients in store-bought dressings that I recommend avoiding for all kinds of health conditions like diabetes, inflammation, heart health, and weight loss. What I love about homemade salad dressing is:
- no preservatives
- no added sugar
- fresh, real ingredients
- naturally high in vitamin C
- good quality oil (unlike many store-bought dressings made with canola)
- no waste (how many bottles of salad dressing have gone bad sitting on your fridge door?)
- you can get creative with ingredient combinations
- takes under 5 minutes to make
The main components of a homemade salad dressing
The main components of a salad dressing typically include:
- Base: This is often oil (like olive oil, vegetable oil, or sesame oil) which forms the foundation of the dressing
- Acid: Common acids include vinegar (balsamic, apple cider, red wine) or citrus juice (like lemon or lime) that add tanginess
- Emulsifier: Ingredients like Dijon mustard, yogurt or egg yolk can help combine oil and vinegar, preventing them from separating. If you are not including these, a blender can help combine everything
- Seasoning: Salt and pepper are essentials, but you can also add herbs and spices
- Sweetener: Naturally sweeten a salad dressing with honey, fruit, or maple syrup to balance the acidity
How to make a fresh strawberry basil vinaigrette from scratch
You will need:
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 2 tablespoons honey (adjust to taste) or maple syrup, if vegan
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil leaves
- Sea salt and pepper to taste (just a pinch of each)
Add all ingredients to a blender and hit the “dressing” setting or blend for 30 seconds. Toss your salad with a small amount, adding more as needed until the leaves are lightly coated.
Store leftovers in a glass jar with lid in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Fresh Strawberry Basil Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh strawberries hulled and halved
- 2 Tbsp honey adjust to taste
- 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves packed
- Sea salt and pepper to taste just a pinch of each
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth (about 30 seconds)
- Toss the salad with a small amount of the vinaigrette, adding more as needed, until the leaves are lightly coated
- Store any leftovers in a glass jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 3 days
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