From the sweet scent of strawberries to the tartness of balsamic, this homemade Strawberry Balsamic Dressing is an absolute delight. Packed full of flavour, this easy-to-make dressing is the perfect way to top your favourite summertime salads.
This gorgeous strawberry balsamic vinaigrette dressing is a balance of sweetness from the strawberries, and some tartness from the balsamic vinegar.
It’s the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and fresh that makes this homemade dressing irresistible. And with its naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan ingredients, it’s a great choice for those with dietary restrictions.
Keen for some more summertime salad dressings? How about our fragrant Blueberry Basil Dressing or our gorgeous Cherry Vinaigrette? They are just as delicious and perfect for adding summertime vibes to your meals.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fresh strawberries - nothing beats in-season strawberries; frozen will work; just make sure you defrost them well first otherwise, your dressing will be more of a frozen slushie.
- Balsamic vinegar - it is important to use good quality aged balsamic vinegar here; the older the vinegar, the sweeter and more syrupy it is.
Olive Oil- extra virgin or virgin olive oil or a flavourless oil such as avocado oil will work. We don’t recommend using vegetable oil, as this is not a heart-healthy oil. - Honey - is used to sweeten the dressing; otherwise, it is way too tart. Swap for maple syrup to make it vegan. Or a keto-approved sweetener to make it keto and low carb.
Variations to Try
- Try other berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries also make a great partner with balsamic.
- Try a nut oil instead, such as walnut or hazelnut, then add some of the same nut to your salad for an extra flavour hit and some crunch.
- Add some Dijon or wholegrain mustard for some tangy flavour.
- Add some fresh herbs such as mint or basil.
- For some heat, try adding chilli powder, chilli flakes or Cajun spice.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Put all the dressing ingredients into a high-speed blender or small food processor.
Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, and blitz until well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.
Pour into a glass container that can be tightly sealed and stored in the fridge for up to a week. If it gels, then just add some cold water to loosen it.
What Can I Use It On?
- Strawberry balsamic dressing can be used on leafy green salads such as romaine, rocket/arugula or baby spinach.
- It is wonderful with any sturdy leafy greens such as kale, collard greens, chard or silverbeet.
- Great with bitter leaf salads such as radicchio, endive or Whitlof, the sweetness of the strawberry vinaigrette will combat their bitter flavour.
- In fennel salads, the slight licorice flavour of the fennel really compliments the sweetness of the strawberries.
- Our Strawberry Balsamic dressing is great to use on a roast beetroot salad with fresh strawberries.
- Sensational on chicken or turkey salads.
- Stir it through a quinoa or wild rice salad, and toss in some fresh herbs, such as mint or basil and some crunchy nuts, such as pistachios or macadamias, for something truly exceptional.
- Toss it through a mixed berry salad.
- To drizzle on grilled chicken or perfectly grilled pork chops.
- As part of a cheese board, it pairs well with blue cheeses such as Gorgonzola and salty cheeses such as feta or goat's cheese.
People Often Ask
Can I use frozen berries?
Absolutely, make sure you defrost them first; otherwise, your dressing will turn into a frozen slushie.
What is the best oil to use for this vinaigrette recipe?
- Being Greek, we pretty much use olive oil for everything opting for virgin or extra virgin blend for our dressings or vinaigrettes as they are lighter.
- Avocado oil also works well here, or you could try a good quality nut oil such as walnut or hazelnut.
How much strawberry balsamic dressing does it make?
This recipe makes one and a third cups of dressing or 21 tablespoons. It is enough to dress two small salads that serve four people each. The nutritional information has been calculated per tablespoon.
How long can I store it?
Pour it into an airtight container with a lid so you can shake it well before pouring it over your salad. It should keep in your refrigerator for up to a week.
If it gels, just add some cold water to loosen it.
What diets is strawberry balsamic salad dressing suitable for?
- Great for most diets - vegan, vegetarian, nut and gluten-free diets, and also good for those that have lactose intolerance as it is creamy yet dairy free.
- If you use a low-carb/keto-friendly sweetener, it would be suitable as berries are low-carb. It has 1.8 grams of net carbs per serve.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced strawberries
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- Sea salt and cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Put all the dressing ingredients into a high-speed blender or small food processor. Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, and blitz until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings according to your liking.
- Pour into a glass container that can be tightly sealed and stored in the fridge for up to a week. If it gels, then just add some cold water to loosen it.
Deb RN says
How much sweetener do I use? Thanks
Anastasia Papapetros says
Hi Deb,
It all depends on how sweet your strawberries are, I would start with half a teaspoon, taste and then if it is still too tart then add another teaspoon, etc. until you it tastes exactly how you like it.
I would err on the side of tart rather than sweet because you are using it for a salad.
I hope this helps.
Many thanks
Anastasia