Honey Balsamic Dressing

By Britany SaareAug 26, 2024Jump to Recipe

This Honey Balsamic Dressing is the bee’s knees!

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Let’s be real—salads are fun! You could probably eat a salad every day and never get bored because there is SO MUCH versatility in the world of salad-building. You can do anything with them—fruits, veggies, grains, greens—anything!

I know. I’m getting too passionate about salads right now. But I wasn’t always this way. Growing up, I hated salads. I hated lettuce and dressings, and I hated the way that they wilted when you combined them together. Salads were so not my thing. And now, salads are pretty much my entire thing. I have so much fun experimenting with new flavor combos. Most importantly, I love eating something that actually makes me feel good.

See, growing up, I wasn’t a fan of traditional salad mixes like lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Maybe you could have convinced me to try Macaroni Salad, but as soon as I found out that it was a “salad,” you lost me. It wasn’t until later than I’d like to admit that I learned about the beautiful rainbow of salads that actually exist out there. Greek salads with olives and feta? Santa Fe salad with corn, black beans, and cheese? And the creme de la creme for me: sweet salads made with my favorite fruits like apples and pears, candied walnuts, and sweet Honey Balsamic Dressing.

That led me to create a homemade version of Honey Balsamic Dressing that is so good that you’ll be thanking me for sharing it with you.

Is Honey Balsamic Dressing Healthy?

My Honey Balsamic Dressing is made with wholesome pantry staples like honey, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and Dijon mustard. It’s sweet and tangy, and for how good it tastes, it treats your body just as good, too! This dressing is loaded with antioxidants, and it only gets better when you drizzle it over your favorite nutrient-rich salads for maximum health benefits.

Oh, Honey

The secret to this dressing is really no secret at all—it’s that added bit of honey that makes it a stand-out flavor in the salad world. Honey is thick, rich, and decadently sweet, so adding it to a standard balsamic dressing balances that tangy, acidic taste just right. The result is a sweet, tangy, and earthy dressing.

While honey is incredibly sweet tasting, the flavor is natural and makes for a better sweetener than other alternatives like white sugar. Honey is a super ingredient packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, enzymes, and a bunch of other science-y things that make you glow from the inside out, and keep you healthy and happy.

INGREDIENTS

2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch of salt
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine

Mix all ingredients in a jar.

Shake

Shake vigorously to emulsify.

Store/Use

Adjust taste, use immediately or store.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store?

Honey Balsamic Dressing will last about a week stored tightly in the refrigerator. It needs to stay refrigerated because of the Dijon mustard. Make sure to shake or stir well before serving, as the ingredients will tend to settle.

Is Balsamic Vinaigrette the same as Balsamic Vinegar?

No. Balsamic vinaigrettes are dressings made with balsamic vinegar and other ingredients. Make sure you are using pure balsamic vinegar to create your Honey Balsamic Dressing.

COMPLEMENTARY FLAVORS

This Honey Balsamic Dressing is particularly great with nuts, cheeses, and dried or earthier-tasting fruits. Its deeper flavor is ideal for autumnal foods.

Serving Suggestions

Honey Balsamic Dressing tastes amazing with darker, more earthy flavors like nuts, cheeses, and dried fruits. Because of this, I’d recommend complimentary salads like Kale Salad With Cranberries, Strawberry Salad With Grilled Nectarines, or Chicken Salad With Avocado and Candied Pecans.

Aside from salads, Honey Balsamic Dressing is also an amazing bread dip or addition to your favorite charcuterie boards. Try drizzling it over cheeses, crackers, and bread.

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