Level up your salad game with this Basil Balsamic Dressing made with a few simple ingredients in 5 minutes!
Believe me when I say that making your own salad dressings is so EASY! And when you add fresh herbs to an otherwise basic homemade vinaigrette, it takes it to a whole new level!
In my opinion fresh basil has the best flavor! Just think of recipes like caprese bruschetta, margherita flatbread, or pesto - fresh basil is what really takes the flavor from ordinary to extraordinary!
This basil balsamic dressing recipe is no exception. In fact, this is my 'go-to' recipe when I'm trying to use up leftover basil. 🙌
You can add as little or as much basil as you want - it just depends on how much you have and how much you want the flavor of fresh basil to stand out.
Once you see how easy this is, it might just become your new favorite salad dressing!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Recipe Add all ingredients to a blender or immersion blender container and blend. So easy!
- Fresh Flavor The incredible flavors of fresh herbs, like basil, are something you can't get from store-bought dressings.
- Simple Ingredients Balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt, and black pepper are pantry staples. Fresh basil can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.
Dietitian Tip
Try giving your kids options of salad dressings when you serve a simple salad as a side dish with dinner. Not only will this help them to feel like they have a say in what's for dinner, but it can also increase exposure to new foods without pressure.
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh Basil Leaves Adds fresh flavor. Use as much or as little as you want, depending on how strong of a basil flavor you want.
- White Balsamic Vinegar Also known as white Moderna vinegar. I've also made this dressing using regular balsamic vinegar; it tasted different and just as good.
- Dijon Mustard A little goes a long way. I think a small amount of Dijon mustard helps to give balsamic vinaigrettes the perfect balance of flavors (even if you're like me and don't like mustard).
- Olive Oil Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil. Avocado oil can be used instead.
- Garlic Use one small fresh garlic clove or garlic powder.
How to Make This Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette
Here's a summary of how to make this Balsamic Basil Vinaigrette. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Place all ingredients in a blender, food processor, or blender cup that an immersion blender will fit in.
- Blend for about one minute, until your desired consistency is reached.
What to Make with Basil Balsamic Dressing
- Lettuce Salad In my opinion, the option of serving a simple salad as a side dish with family meals is underrated. All you need to do is serve a small bowl of salad greens with dressing on the side. Top it with a few cherry tomatoes or sliced cucumbers to add more variety.
- Chicken Marinade Just like Italian dressing, basil balsamic vinaigrette makes a great marinade. In fact, I have chicken breast tenderloins marinating in this dressing as I'm typing. Yum!
- Pasta Salad This basil balsamic vinaigrette makes a delicious pasta salad. Toss this dressing in with cooked pasta, feta cheese or small chunks of mozzarella, sliced cucumber and sliced cherry tomatoes for even more Mediterranean flavor.
Helpful Tips
- Optional: add a little bit of honey or maple syrup to help balance out the tangy balsamic vinegar. You shouldn't need to add more than one teaspoon of honey.
- Store leftovers refrigerated in a glass jar or airtight container with a tight-fitting lid. A mason jar works well for salad dressings.
- While most homemade balsamic vinaigrettes can be stored at room temperature, I recommend storing this dressing in the refrigerator because of the fresh basil.
- Give this salad dressing a good shake before drizzling it onto your favorite salad greens.
Questions You May Have
I've learned from experience that estimating the amount of oil and vinegar when making a vinaigrette is the biggest mistake. Estimating the amount of salt and pepper is fine but be sure to measure out the amount of oil and vinegar when making salad dressings.
Another mistake is leaving out the mustard. I used to leave out mustard when making dressings, but I've learned to keep some in because it helps to keep the oil and vinegar from separating (mustard is considered an emulsifier).
Fresh basil can last 1-3 days in the fridge. When basil is in season, I buy one bunch and put it the stems in water (sort of like a small flower bouquet) so it lasts longer.
When basil is not in season, I like to buy hydroponic basil plants from the grocery store. As long as I keep it watered and place it where it gets sunlight, the basil plant lasts several days.
Yes, fresh herbs, including basil, should be rinsed under cold water before you plan to use it.
Easy Salad Recipes
📖 Recipe
Basil Balsamic Dressing
Equipment
- 1 immersion blender or small blender
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small blender or container fit to use an emersion blender.1 cup fresh basil leaves, 3 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoon water, ¼ teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Blend until your desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- 1 cup of loosely packed fresh basil equals about 21-28 basil leaves, depending on the size of the leaves. Yes, I count them;)
- I made this basil balsamic dressing with different amounts of fresh basil. The basil flavor really started to stand out when three-quarters of a cup was added and really stood out when I used one cup of fresh basil leaves.
- This is a thin salad dressing. If you prefer salad dressings to have more substance, replace the water with more olive oil.
- If you add this to a salad that also has a salty cheese (like feta), you may not need to add much salt at all.
- If you use this for a chicken marinade, you'll definitely want to add a pinch of salt and black pepper before you bake the chicken in it.
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