Go-To Balsamic French dressing (4 Substances!)

October 21, 2025

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This simple balsamic French dressing takes minutes to make with simply 4 easy elements. It’s candy and tangy, good for salads or grain bowls!

Once I first began studying to cook dinner, I nonetheless keep in mind the “aha” second of realizing I may make salad dressing at dwelling. That straightforward home made balsamic French dressing tasted brisker and extra vibrant than something I’d ever purchased bottled, and it took me lower than 5 minutes to make.

Now this 4-ingredient recipe has turn out to be my absolute go-to dressing. I’ve spent over a decade perfecting this recipe, and it’s one which our family and friends always request! It transforms all the pieces from strawberry salad to roasted greens to grain bowls all through the week!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Right here’s why I this you’ll love this recipe:

Simply 4 easy elements: Balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, and maple syrup are all you want
Prepared in 5 minutes: Quicker than driving to the shop for a bottle
Completely balanced taste: Candy and tangy with simply the correct amount of acidity
Stays emulsified: The Dijon mustard retains it creamy and prevents separation

5-Star Reader Evaluations

“Made for a women’ weekend, and salad and dressing acquired rave opinions. Simple to place collectively and engaging every time we used it. Will certainly make once more.” -Cyn

“This actually is one of the best balsamic French dressing! Made it final night time to go along with your beet and goat cheese salad, and everybody raved. And my household isn’t that keen on salad, in order that’s a reasonably good endorsement.” -Josianne

Ingredient Notes

I’ve realized that with so few elements, high quality issues. Right here’s what you’ll want:

Aged balsamic vinegar: The standard of your balsamic does make a distinction! I like to recommend a mid-priced industrial grade balsamic vinegar, also called balsamic vinegar of Modena (IGP). It has that good stability of tangy and candy flavors with out breaking the financial institution (search for bottles within the $8-15 vary). Conventional aged balsamic (DOP) is just too costly for mixing into dressing, and the most affordable condiment-grade variations lack depth.
Dijon mustard: This ingredient provides tangy taste and helps the dressing to turn out to be thick and creamy, locking within the emulsion. This method works in lots of different French dressing salad dressing recipes, like this Italian dressing recipe.
Maple syrup or honey: I desire actual maple syrup for its advanced taste, however honey works superbly too. Begin with 1 tablespoon for a extra savory dressing, or use 2 for one thing sweeter (good for fruit salads).
Further virgin olive oil: Use a very good high quality olive oil that you just benefit from the style of by itself. You possibly can substitute avocado oil for a extra impartial taste, however I like the fruity notes {that a} good olive oil brings (plus, it’s one of many healthiest cooking oils).

Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients: balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, maple syrup or honey

Methods to Make Balsamic French dressing Dressing

Making home made balsamic French dressing is surprisingly easy, however the approach issues for getting it correctly emulsified. Right here’s my foolproof methodology (or go to the full recipe):

Step 1: Whisk the balsamic vinaigrette ingredients in a bowl.

Step 1: Begin by whisking collectively the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup or honey, and in a medium bowl. Make sure that your bowl has sufficient room for vigorous whisking: you want house for the whisk to actually transfer.

Step 2 Balsamic Vinaigrette whisk in the olive oil

Step 2: Right here’s the important thing to good emulsification: add your olive oil step by step, one tablespoon at a time, whisking always after every addition. This gradual addition lets the mustard work its magic, binding the oil and vinegar right into a creamy dressing.

Balsamic vinegar bottle with balsamic vinaigrette dressing

Step 3: Take pleasure in on the salad of your alternative!

Professional tip: You may as well use the jar-shake methodology if you’re in a rush. Add all elements to a mason jar, seal tightly, and shake vigorously for 30 seconds. The confined house creates agitation, serving to all the pieces emulsify shortly. Plus, you’ll be able to retailer it proper within the jar.

In case your French dressing does separate after storing, merely re-whisk or shake it again collectively. The Dijon mustard makes it simple to re-emulsify. For finest outcomes, let it come to room temperature first.

Methods to Use It

This balsamic French dressing recipe is extremely versatile: it’s extra than simply salad dressing! Listed below are my favourite methods to make use of it:

On Inexperienced Salads: Drizzle over spinach salad, butter lettuce salad, radicchio salad, arugula salad or endive salad. It’s particularly good on beet salad or candy potato salad the place the sweetness enhances the earthy greens.
On Fruit-Based mostly Salads: It’s scrumptious on apple salad, strawberry salad, apple walnut salad, or pear salad.
As a Marinade: This dressing doubles as a superb marinade for grilled hen or baked tofu. Marinate for half-hour to 2 hours earlier than grilling or roasting.
Roasted Greens: Toss with balsamic Brussels sprouts or drizzle over any roasted greens over the past 5 minutes of cooking.
Grain Bowls: It makes an instantaneous sauce for a farro bowl, energy bowl or rice bowl.

Methods to Retailer

Retailer your home made balsamic French dressing in an hermetic container (I usually use a mason jar) within the fridge for to 2 to three weeks. The olive oil will solidify when chilly, which is completely regular. Let the dressing sit at room temperature a couple of minutes earlier than utilizing, then give it a very good shake or whisk to re-emulsify.

Don’t attempt to freeze vinaigrettes: the feel of the emulsion received’t come again collectively correctly when thawed. Because it solely takes 5 minutes to make, it’s simpler to make a recent batch.

In the event you discover separation throughout storage, that’s regular! Simply shake or whisk earlier than every use.

Dietary notes

This balsamic French dressing recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.

Ceaselessly requested questions

Is balsamic French dressing wholesome?

This home made model is way more healthy than store-bought choices. It incorporates heart-healthy olive oil, no preservatives or synthetic elements, and also you management the quantity of sweetener.

What’s one of the best ratio of oil to vinegar?

A superb start line is a 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar. You possibly can alter this to your style desire – extra vinegar for a tangier dressing, extra oil for a milder taste.

Can I exploit balsamic French dressing as a marinade for hen or different proteins?

Completely! This dressing makes a superb marinade. The acid within the vinegar helps tenderize meat whereas the oil retains it moist throughout cooking. For hen, marinate for half-hour to 2 hours. For harder cuts of beef or pork, you’ll be able to marinate as much as 24 hours.

Does it matter what kind of balsamic vinegar I exploit?

Sure, the standard of your balsamic vinegar considerably impacts the ultimate taste. Search for Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (IGP) within the $8-15 vary for one of the best outcomes. Keep away from the most affordable bottles (below $5) which are sometimes simply wine vinegar with caramel coloring and added sweeteners. Save costly conventional balsamic (DOP) for drizzling.

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Balsamic French dressing

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5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 5 opinions

This simple balsamic French dressing recipe makes use of solely 4 elements (plus salt) and whips up in minutes! With its stability of candy, tangy, and savory, it’s going to turn out to be your go-to salad dressing. Ditch retailer purchased dressing for good!

Writer: Sonja and Alex Overhiser
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
Whole Time: 5 minutes
Yield: About ½ cup
Class: Salad Dressing
Methodology: Whisked
Delicacies: American
Weight-reduction plan: Vegan

Substances

2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 to 2 tablespoons* pure maple syrup or honey
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
6 tablespoons olive oil

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Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk collectively the balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and salt till absolutely mixed.
Regularly whisk within the olive oil, including 1 tablespoon at a time and whisking till it incorporates, till an emulsion types.* Serve instantly. Retailer refrigerated and convey to room temperature earlier than serving (retains a minimum of 2 weeks).

Notes

*In the event you’re on the lookout for a balsamic dressing on the candy facet for salads like a strawberry salad, use 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup. For a balsamic dressing with extra savory notes, use 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup.

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Extra Selfmade Dressings to Strive

01

Go-To Balsamic French dressing (4 Substances!)

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

5-Star Reader Evaluations

Ingredient Notes

Methods to Make Balsamic French dressing Dressing

Methods to Use It

Methods to Retailer

Dietary notes

Ceaselessly requested questions

Balsamic French dressing

Substances

Directions

Notes

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