Zingy Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe For Fresh Salads

Drizzling a vibrant and tangy simple homemade strawberry vinaigrette over your salad instantly brightens up any meal.

Fresh, ripe strawberries blend seamlessly with zesty ingredients to create a luxurious dressing.

The combination of sweet and acidic notes dances across your palate with remarkable balance.

homemade dressings pack more flavor and nutrition than store-bought alternatives.

This recipe requires minimal effort and just a handful of ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

Every bite promises a burst of summer-inspired freshness that turns an ordinary salad into something extraordinary.

Get ready to upgrade your greens with this delightful, quick-to-make vinaigrette that’s sure to impress.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 0 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Calories: 128 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients for Strawberry Vinaigrette from Scratch

• Strawberries: Vibrant sweet-tart berries that create the luscious foundation and bright color of the vinaigrette, selecting ripe, deep red strawberries ensures maximum flavor intensity.
• Lime: Zesty citrus that adds a tangy kick and helps balance the sweetness, choose firm limes with smooth, glossy skin for maximum juice extraction.

• Olive Oil: Silky smooth base that provides richness and helps emulsify the dressing, opt for extra virgin olive oil with a fruity, high-quality profile.
• White Wine Vinegar: Adds sharp acidity and helps cut through the sweetness, selecting a clean, crisp vinegar enhances the overall dressing complexity.

• Honey: Natural sweetener that rounds out the vinaigrette's flavor profile, raw local honey provides deeper, more nuanced sweetness.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that amplifies all other ingredients, using fine sea salt ensures even distribution and balanced taste.
• Black Pepper: Subtle spice that adds depth and warmth, freshly ground pepper delivers more robust flavor compared to pre-ground varieties.

Simple Tools to Make Strawberry Vinaigrette

• High-speed blender: Essential for creating a silky smooth vinaigrette, quickly blending all ingredients.
• Measuring cups: Precise measurements ensure balanced flavors in your dressing.
• Lime zester: Helps extract fine, fragrant zest for added brightness.
• Spatula: Scrapes down blender sides, ensuring no ingredient is left behind.
• Sealed jar: Perfect for storing your homemade vinaigrette in the refrigerator.

How to Blend Up Strawberry Vinaigrette at Home

• Fresh Strawberry Gathering

Collect ripe, juicy strawberries from your local farmers market or garden, seeking out the brightest and most fragrant berries that promise incredible flavor.

• Blender Magic

Toss those beautiful strawberries into your blender, adding a splash of tangy zest and complementary ingredients that will transform your ordinary salad into a culinary adventure.

• Smooth Symphony

Pulse and blend the mixture until it reaches a silky, vibrant consistency that looks as incredible as it will taste, creating a dressing that dances with bright, fresh notes.

• Flavor Preservation

Transfer your stunning vinaigrette into a clean glass jar, sealing in the summery essence and keeping it chilled in the refrigerator, ready to elevate your next meal with just a quick shake.

Tips to Adjust Strawberry Dressing Flavor

• Roast strawberries before blending to caramelize their natural sugars and deepen the vinaigrette's complexity, creating a more robust and concentrated taste profile.
• Adjust the honey or maple syrup amount based on strawberry ripeness – less sweet berries might need extra sweetener, while peak-season strawberries require minimal added sugar.
• Strain the vinaigrette through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds and pulp for an ultra-smooth, silky dressing that glides perfectly over salads and greens.
• Experiment by adding fresh herbs like basil, mint, or thyme directly into the blender to introduce unexpected aromatic notes and elevate the vinaigrette's overall flavor complexity.
• Pour extra vinaigrette into ice cube trays and freeze, creating convenient portioned dressing cubes that can be thawed quickly for instant salad dressing or marinade.

Ways to Serve Your Strawberry Vinaigrette Creatively

• Drizzle Over Fresh Salads: Enhance crisp mixed greens or spinach with this vibrant strawberry vinaigrette, adding a burst of fruity brightness to your healthy meal.
• Pair with Grilled Proteins: Complement grilled chicken, salmon, or tofu by using this tangy dressing as a delightful marinade or finishing sauce.
• Create Refreshing Summer Appetizers: Transform simple caprese skewers or bruschetta by adding a light splash of this homemade vinaigrette for an unexpected flavor twist.
• Blend into Summer Smoothie Bowls: Mix a small amount into yogurt-based smoothie bowls to introduce a zesty strawberry kick that elevates the entire breakfast experience.

Storage Guide for Strawberry Vinaigrette

• Refrigerate Promptly: Transfer the freshly blended vinaigrette into an airtight glass container, ensuring a tight seal to maintain its vibrant flavor and prevent contamination.
• Quick Shake Before Use: Due to natural ingredient separation, give the vinaigrette a vigorous shake or stir before each serving to restore its smooth, consistent texture.
• Maximize Freshness Window: Consume the vinaigrette within 5 days of preparation, storing it consistently at 40°F or below to preserve its bright strawberry taste and nutritional quality.
• Smart Portioning Strategy: Consider dividing the batch into smaller containers, allowing you to thaw or use only the amount needed while keeping the remaining dressing pristine and well-chilled.

Tangy Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette

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• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Homemade strawberry vinaigrette offers a delightful blend of sweet and tangy flavors that elevate salads and dishes. Blending fresh strawberries with quality vinegar creates a simple, elegant dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ¾ cup (180 ml) fresh strawberries (hulled and chopped)
• ⅓ cup (80 ml) olive oil
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsps (30 ml) real maple syrup
• 1.5 tbsps (22.5 ml) fresh lime juice
• 2 tsp (10 ml) lime zest
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Thoroughly wash ripe strawberries, ensuring complete cleanliness and optimal flavor extraction.
2. Blending Process: Combine all ingredients in a high-performance blender, carefully integrating lime zest to release aromatic essential oils and create flavor complexity.
3. Mixing Technique: Pulse initially to break down strawberry pieces, then blend on high speed for 25-35 seconds, achieving a silky-smooth consistency without fruit chunks.
4. Refinement: Pause blending to scrape down sides with a flexible spatula, incorporating any unmixed ingredients and ensuring a uniform vinaigrette texture.
5. Flavor Calibration: Taste and adjust seasoning, potentially adding a subtle pinch of salt or extra honey to harmonize the flavor profile.
6. Storage and Preservation: Transfer the vinaigrette to a clean glass jar with an airtight lid, immediately refrigerating to maintain vibrant color and fresh taste for up to 5 days.
7. Serving Preparation: Before use, gently shake the jar to recombine any natural separation and restore the vinaigrette’s original smooth consistency.

Notes

• Select Peak Strawberries: Choose bright red, fragrant berries without bruises or soft spots for the most vibrant and fresh vinaigrette flavor.
• Blending Pro Tip: Start with pulse mode to break down fruit chunks, preventing messy splashes and ensuring smoother consistency.
• Temperature Matters: Serve chilled for best taste and store immediately in refrigerator to maintain fresh, bright strawberry essence.
• Quick Storage Strategy: Use clean glass jar with tight lid to preserve vinaigrette’s color and prevent flavor degradation, consuming within 5 days for optimal quality.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 128
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 1 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 7 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 0.2 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg