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    Home » Recipe

    Published: Jun 9, 2023 by maxcozzi · This post may contain affiliate links · 393 Comments

    Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    This basil balsamic vinaigrette is a classic homemade salad dressing made with fresh basil leaves, honey, and balsamic vinegar. It is very simple to make and goes great on pretty much any salad. 

    basil balsamic vinaigrette

    For this recipe I keep the dressing a bit on the sweet side because balsamic vinegar is very good when sweetened. Think, balsamic reduction. If you prefer a more sour vinaigrette though, feel free to reduce the honey and even add a squirt or two of lemon. 

    Basil is a perfect compliment to balsamic as well. Basil's herby freshness plays well with the sweet grape flavor of balsamic. Some other good options would be thyme, tarragon, or rosemary. 

    I use this dressing with my beet greens salad recipe here. It is a simple salad using beet greens, cherries, and pecans. 

    Key Ingredients

    • Balsamic Vinegar
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Garlic
    • Honey
    • Basil
    • Dijon Mustard
    • Black Pepper

    Instructions

    Variations

    The honey and dijon mustard in this recipe do help to make a thicker consitency to this dressing. A classic variation though is to make the dressing in a food processor or with an immersion blender, which will make the dressing more emulsified and creamy. 

    Top Tip

    It is easy to gawk at the prices of some higher quality balsamic vinegars, but if you have the ability to try one I highly recommend it. A good quality balsamic really does change the flavor and you will use a lot less of it. 

    See my guide on creating great vinaigrettes from scratch here. 

    Salad Recipes

    Looking for a salad to try this with? Try one of these. 

    • Simple Arugula Salad
    • Frisée And Apple Salad
    • Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
    basil balsamic vinaigrette

    Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

    This classic homemade dressing uses fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, and honey.
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.5mg
    Calories: 288kcal
    Author: Max Cozzi
    Servings: 4
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    Ingredients

    • ½ cup basil, (minced)
    • 1 clove garlic, (minced)
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

    Instructions

    • Add basil, garlic, honey, olive oil, balsamic, salt, and pepper to a jar. Cap the jar and give a good shake until well combined. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

    Video

    Notes

    If storing the dressing in the refrigerator, let it come back to room temperature before giving it another shake. 
    Course: dressing, toppings
    Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean, pacific northwest
    Keyword: balsamic, dressing, salad, vegetables, vegetarian, vinaigrette
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    Food Safety

    • Cook meat to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Max Cozzi, the creator of Redwood Kitchen food blog

    Hi, I'm Max! Welcome to Redwood Kitchen, where you will find tasty and approachable recipes. I am inspired by life in the PNW, from the Mediterranean climate to the asian influenced culinary scene.

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