Jeff and I have salads pretty much every night. And I have this balsamic vinaigrette recipe of EPIC proportions to thank for it! I posted how I make this healthy balsamic vinaigrette recipe on my Instagram stories and so many of you went on to make it! That made my heart sing. Like my delish Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing and Italian Dressing, a bunch of you asked for the exact recipe. And here we are!
What is balsamic vinaigrette dressing made of?
Homemade balsamic vinaigrette is typically made with extra virgin olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, fresh garlic, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. You may also see flavor add ins like sugar (or maple syrup/honey) or herbs. Blending this balsamic vinegar dressing recipe is an absolute MUST. It emulsifies everything and makes the dressing thick and creamy. I recommend a blender, but a food processor could also work.
What’s balsamic vinegar of Modena?
This is the real deal high quality stuff when it comes to balsamic vinegar. I buy it at Costco! Aged balsamic vinegar of Modena is made from wine vinegar and concentrated Trebbiano grape must, i.e. crushed whole grapes with skins, seeds, and stems. Balsamic vinegar of Modena is packed with flavor because it has matured in wood barrels for at least three years. You’ll notice the bottles have the yellow and blue I.G.P stamp, a certification guaranteeing it’s made from grape varietals typical of Modena, Italy. The dark brown color we all know and love comes from aging the vinegar in wood casks. When the vinegar hasn’t been aged for long, companies will add caramel color to mimic the deep, rich color of true aged balsamic vinegar. While the color will be the same, clearly the flavor won’t be. Balsamic vinegar contains naturally occurring sulfates, but none should be added.
More ways to use it
Balsamic salad dressing isn’t just fantastic for dressing greens! It’s stellar:
drizzled on sandwiches on roasted vegetables as dressing for pasta salad dip for pizza as a marinade
