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    Home » Recipes » Vegetarian Salads and Salad Dressings Recipes

    Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

    Published: Feb 9, 2023 · Modified: Mar 22, 2023 by Cassidy Reeser · This post contains affiliate links.

    129 shares
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    This sweet and tangy strawberry balsamic dressing is the perfect addition to spring and summer salads. It uses just 6 ingredients and is ready in 5 minutes!

    Glass carafe filled with pink dressing next to two strawberries and a pink cloth.

    With spring on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about all things strawberries. This strawberry spinach salad is one of my favorite salads to make this time of year, and the strawberry balsamic dressing on it is so delicious that it deserves its own post.

    The sweetness from the strawberries with a touch of maple syrup is balanced out by tangy balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. This is the perfect combination for spring and summer salads.

    Recipe features

    • Simple: This strawberry balsamic vinaigrette uses just 6 ingredients, most of which are pantry staples.
    • Flavors: This is like a sweeter, vibrant pink balsamic vinegar. The sweet strawberries are balanced out by tangy lemon and balsamic, with a creamy texture from the blended strawberries.
    • This strawberry balsamic dressing is made in a blender or food processor in just 5 minutes. Simply add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth!

    This is one of my favorite creamy vegan salad dressings. Check out that post for more easy dressing ideas that you can make at home.

    Ingredients

    Labeled ingredients used to make strawberry vinaigrette.
    • Strawberries: Choose ripe, in-season strawberries for the best flavor. Frozen strawberries work well here, just make sure to thaw them first.
    • Balsamic vinegar: Along with strawberries, this is the backbone of the dressing flavor. I don't recommend swapping this out with other vinegars. I do recommend spending money on good balsamic vinegar, because it can make a world of difference.
    • Olive oil: I like to use light olive oil in salad dressings to avoid overpowering the dressing with rich olive flavor. Avocado oil also works here.
    • Lemon juice: This adds brightness and balances out the sweetness from the strawberries. I recommend using fresh lemons.
    • Maple syrup: Start with a small amount and adjust to taste. Riper strawberries require less maple syrup. If using less sweet out-of-season strawberries, use more maple syrup. Honey works too.

    How to make

    Top-down view of blender filled with unblended strawberries and vinegar.

    I use a blender to make the strawberry dressing, but a food processor also works.

    It's really easy. Just remove the stems from the strawberries. I slice the strawberries in half because I don't have the world's strongest blender (AKA a vitamix), but this isn't necessary if you do have a super strong blender.

    Add the strawberries to the blender along with the other ingredients.

    Blend until smooth. Taste for maple syrup and salt, adjusting as needed to reach your preferred level of sweetness.

    Pink strawberry dressing dripping off of a spoon into a mason jar filled with dressing.

    How to use this dressing

    The beauty of such a flavorful salad dressing like this strawberry balsamic dressing is that it is an easy way to elevate simple greens.

    My favorite way to serve it is with spinach, goat cheese, and strawberries in this simple spinach salad.

    Another option is to massage kale and pair it with berries, quinoa, nuts, and chickpeas for a meal-worthy salad.

    Storage tips

    Strawberry balsamic dressing keeps for 3-4 days in the fridge. I like to refrigerate dressings in mason jars. Shake the dressing before using to re-emulsify the olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

    I have not tried freezing this dressing, but I do think it would work. Let thaw overnight in the fridge when ready to use. Shake before using.

    Glass mason jar filled with pink dressing next to two strawberries and a pink cloth.

    More easy salad dressings

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    • Tahini dressing dripping off of spoon into a glass jar of dressing.
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    Did you try this recipe? You can leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in the recipe card or a review in the comments section below. I always appreciate your feedback! Or check out my new cookbook and follow along on my YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, or sign up for my newsletter!

    📖 Recipe

    Glass carafe filled with pink dressing next to two strawberries and a pink cloth.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

    This strawberry dressing uses fresh strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and lemon juice for a sweet and lightly tangy summer salad dressing.
    Prep Time5 minutes mins
    Total Time5 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 servings (2 tablespoons each; makes about ¾ cup dressing)
    Author: Cassidy Reeser, MS, RD
    • 1 Blender or food processor

    Ingredients

    • ½ cup sliced strawberries see note #1
    • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil see note #2
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon maple syrup adjust to taste
    • ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a blender. Blend until smooth.
    • Add additional maple syrup as needed. Store in a mason jar for up to 4 days. Shake the jar well before using.

    Video

    Notes

    1. Strawberry prep: Slice the top off of the strawberries. Slice each strawberry in half, then fill measuring cup to measure out ½ cup strawberry slices.
    2. Frozen strawberries work in place of fresh ones. Let thaw before blending.
    3. Olive oil: I prefer light olive oil for salad dressings. Avocado oil also works.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 56kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 0.1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gSodium: 99mgPotassium: 33mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 6mgIron: 0.1mg

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    Hi, I’m Cassidy Reeser! As both a published author and registered dietitian with a master's degree in nutrition, I use my education and experience in recipe development and nutrition to share balanced, nourishing, and comforting vegetarian recipes for anyone looking to include more meatless meals in their diet.

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