5 Fruity Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Salad dressing is one of those things that just can’t be bottled with very much success. A fresh homemade dressing trumps store bought any day, and it’s such a quick and easy process. The gorgeous colors, and the creative flavor combinations are endless, so it can bring out your inner chef.

I love these dressings because each one has a unique vivacious flavor that really does become the defining feature of a salad. If you’ve spotted those pricy crushed fruit vinegars lately, you’ll love my blackberry vinegar.

You can make any of these homemade dressings in a mini food processor, which brings everything together in an instant. Or you can use a whisk. Make small batches of all of them, or one big batch of your favorite. They’ll keep in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

#1 Cilantro lime vinaigrette

First up is a Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. This is a south of the border classic that goes with just about any salad, but make sure you try it drizzled over avocado, or melon, too. And you can use this as a  marinade for grilled chicken or steak.

#2 Shallot and pink grapefruit dressing

I love the citrus-y flavor of my Shallot and Pink Grapefruit Dressing. You’ll really taste the shallot in this dressing, and the color will be a coral-y pink. Very pretty and elegant.

#3 Blackberry vinegar

Blackberry vinegar is a thick deep purple vinegar that has a lot of body due to the blackberry puree. This kind of vinegar married with fruit puree is a new item in the gourmet market and they can be really pricey. I’ve fallen for them several times, and they are so good, the flavors just explode. I’m actually recycling one of the bottles that I paid big $$ for. Just mix this with olive oil for an instant dressing.

#4 Lemon mustard and tarragon vinaigrette

Lemon Mustard and Tarragon Vinaigrette ~ this is another classic. The tarragon gives it a little unexpected flavor, the whole grain mustard gives it a kick. I love this over spicy arugula.

#5 Roasted strawberry vinaigrette

The Roasted Strawberry Vinaigrette is gorgeous, and it’s a little thicker than the rest. I think it has potential as a glaze for chicken or pork, too.

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5 Fruity Salad Dressing Recipes

3.65 from 20 votes

My 5 Fruity Salad Dressing Recipes prove that a great salad dressing can make even a pile of lettuce exciting ~ these are so good you almost want to eat them on their own.

Print Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time:20 minutes minutes

Total Time:20 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

 

Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette

• 1 large lime, zested and juiced
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro leaves
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more if necessary
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Shallot and Pink Grapefruit Dressing

• 1/2 large shallot, rough chopped
• 1/3 cup fresh grapefruit juice, 1 red or pink grapefruit
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbsp sherry vinegar, or champagne vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

Blackberry Vinegar

• 6 ounces blackberries
• 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar

Lemon Mustard and Tarragon Vinaigrette

• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 Tbsp fresh tarragon leaves
• 1 Tbsp whole grain mustard
• 1/4 cup walnut oil, plus extra if necessary
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper , to taste

Roasted Strawberry Vinaigrette

• 10 strawberries, about 1 heaping cup
• 1 Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp white balsamic vinegar
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• For the Lime Cilantro Vinaigrette: Put the lime juice and zest into the bowl of a mini food processor. Add the cilantro and process until the cilantro is very finely chopped.

  Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. With the machine running, drizzle in the oil slowly through the small hole (s) in the top. Stop the machine and taste the dressing.

  If it is too tangy, drizzle in a little more oil. Season with salt and fresh black pepper to taste. Refrigerate until needed.
• For the Shallot and Pink Grapefruit Dressing: Put the shallot and the grapefruit juice in the bowl of a small food processor. Blend until the shallot is very finely processed.

  If using a whisk, mince your shallot as finely as possible. With the machine going, drizzle in the oil through the top. Stop the machine, add the vinegar and honey, then process again to combine. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
• For the Blackberry Vinegar: Rinse the berries and put them in a small saucepan. Heat over low to medium heat for about 5 minutes until the berries start to break down and release their juice.

  Add the vinegar, bring back to a full boil, and then take off the heat. Let cool a bit and then process in a small food processor until the berries are completely pureed.

  Strain through a mesh sieve, pushing the thick juice through but leaving the seeds behind. Bottle and keep in the refrigerator.
• For the Lemon Mustard and Tarragon Vinaigrette: Put the lemon juice, zest, and tarragon in a small processor. Process until well blended. Stop and scrape down the sides if necessary.

  Slowly drizzle in the oil as the machine is running. Stop and taste, add more oil if it is too tangy. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• For the Roasted Strawberry Vinaigrette: Set oven to 450 degrees F. Halve the strawberries and spread them out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast in oven for about 15 minutes.

  Transfer the strawberries to the bowl of a mini food processor. Add the rosemary leaves, lime juice and vinegar. Process until the berries are pureed.

  Slowly drizzle in the oil through the hole in to top as the machine runs. Add the salt and pepper to taste.

NOTES ~ Click here to add your own private notes.

Course: condiment

Cuisine: American

Author: Sue Moran

Keyword: salad dressing

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tbsp · Calories: 62 kcal · Carbohydrates: 1 g · Protein: 0.1 g · Fat: 7 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g · Sodium: 291 mg · Potassium: 9 mg · Fiber: 0.2 g · Sugar: 0.1 g · Vitamin A: 11 IU · Vitamin C: 2 mg · Calcium: 3 mg · Iron: 0.1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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