Strawberry Vinaigrette

It’s the blend of fresh strawberries and strawberry preserves that sets this Strawberry Vinaigrette apart from the others. Bright and deep, tangy and sweet, the depth of flavor is unmatched.

A good vinaigrette is all about balance. Here red wine vinegar’s bright acidity contrasts with the sweetness of fresh, ripe strawberries and strawberry preserves. Olive oil and honey add a luscious mouth feel, while shallots add an edge of delicate oniony flavor and salt and pepper round everything out.

Strawberry Vinaigrette Ingredients

• Strawberries: Ideally sweet, ripe fresh strawberries that are red all the way through for the most vibrant dressing color. Swap in frozen strawberries for fresh if that’s what is available or what you have on hand.
• Red Wine Vinegar: You can also use white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or even balsamic vinegar, but I prefer red wine vinegar for its pinkish hue.
• Strawberry Preserves: or your favorite strawberry jam (see the difference below) – Strawberry Compote would also be an excellent option.
• Honey: Or maple syrup for a vegan version. You may want to omit this if you use a jam that’s very sweet (i.e., if the first ingredient is sugar).
• Shallot: Or a small amount of sweet, red onion.
• Olive Oil: a good quality, extra virgin olive oil
• Kosher Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

What is the difference between jam and preserves?

The main differences between jam and preserves are the texture and the ratio of fruit to sweetener. Jam is made of mashed fruit that has a smoother, more spreadable texture than preserves and often contains less fruit and more sweetener than preserves. Preserves, though still spreadable, have a chunkier texture and contain less sweetener and a higher ratio of fruit.

Quick, Easy, and Versatile

With this easy strawberry vinaigrette recipe, 6 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of your time can turn a simple salad into a dish that competes with any main course for the spotlight. Though this strawberry salad dressing pairs well with almost any green salad or fruit salad, it particularly compliments tender greens like baby spinach and peppery arugula, embellished with creamy, salty feta cheese, goat cheese, or blue cheese and a fistful of crunchy walnuts, pecans or hazelnuts. There might not be such a thing as the perfect salad, but you can’t go wrong with any of these combinations.

How to Store

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Pair With

• Strawberry Spinach Salad
• Spinach Strawberry Walnut Salad

More Homemade Salad Dressings

• Champagne Vinaigrette
• French Vinaigrette
• Balsamic Vinaigrette
• Greek Salad Dressing
• Homemade Caesar Dressing

How to Make Strawberry Vinaigrette

Add all vinaigrette ingredients except for olive oil, salt and pepper to a blender pitcher. Blend until smooth. Then add add olive oil in a steady stream, blending until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.