Balsamic Vinaigrette

If you’ve ever stood in the salad dressing aisle searching for a healthier option, you know the struggle.

On one shelf, you’ll find bottles filled with preservatives, artificial flavors, gums, and ingredients that sound more like a chemistry experiment than food. On another shelf, you’ll find the “clean” dressings—the ones made with recognizable ingredients and healthier oils. The only problem? They often cost $6, $8, or even more for a relatively small bottle.

That’s exactly why I started making my own balsamic vinaigrette at home.

This Balsamic Vinaigrette is made with simple pantry ingredients: balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, and a few herbs and spices. That’s it. Every ingredient is recognizable, easy to find, and maybe even already sitting in your kitchen.

And the best part? It’s significantly less expensive than many of the healthier bottled dressings on the market. When you make your own dressing, you’re paying for the ingredients—not the packaging, marketing, shipping, and retail markup. A single batch costs just a fraction of what you’d spend on a premium store-bought dressing, while delivering the same clean ingredient list and fresh flavor.

Flavor-wise, this dressing checks all the boxes. The balsamic vinegar provides a rich, tangy sweetness, while the extra virgin olive oil creates a smooth, silky texture. Dijon mustard helps everything come together into a beautifully emulsified dressing, and a touch of honey softens the acidity without making it overly sweet. Dried basil and oregano add just enough herbal flavor to make every bite interesting.

The result is a dressing that’s balanced, versatile, and far more flavorful than many bottled alternatives. And, of course, salads are only the beginning. Try drizzling it over roasted vegetables, tossing it with a grain bowl, using it as a marinade for chicken or pork, or spooning it over sliced tomatoes. Once you have a jar in the refrigerator, you’ll find yourself reaching for it all week long.
Five minutes. A handful of simple ingredients. Better flavor. Lower cost. That’s a pretty good return on investment for a homemade dressing.

NOTE: You want to plan in advance and make this dressing at least a day ahead so that the flavors really come together.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp water
• 7 g (1 tsp) honey
• 5 g (1 tsp) Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried basil
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients: 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 Tbsp water, 7 g (1 tsp) honey, 5 g (1 tsp) Dijon mustard, 1 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/8 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp dried basil, and 1/4 tsp dried oregano until well-combined.
2. Pour into a salad dressing jar with sealing lid and seal.
3. Refrigerate overnight to fully marinate.
4. Remove from fridge about 45 mins before serving to allow the oil to return to liquid form.
5. Shake well before serving.

NUTRITION FACTS
Servings	8
Amount Per Serving	2 Tbsp (30 ml)
Calories	100
		% Daily Value*
Total Fat	10 g	13%
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	8%
Trans Fat	0 g
Monounsaturated Fat	7.5 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	1 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Sodium	140 mg	6%
Total Carbohydrate	2 g	1%
Dietary Fiber	0 g	0%
Total Sugars	2 g
Added Sugars	1 g
Sugar Alcohols	0 g
Protein	0 g
Vitamin D	0 mcg	0%
Calcium	10 mg	0%
Iron	0.2 mg	2%
Potassium	35 mg	0%
Vitamin A	0 mcg	0%
Vitamin C	1 mg	2%
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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