Discover a new way to enjoy the summer's bounty with Strawberry Vinaigrette! Made with fresh strawberries, white wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon zest, and seasonings, this dressing is a delicious way to elevate greens, pasta salads, and more!
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Usher in the start of longer days and warmer weather by making a batch of strawberry dressing! Prepared in just a few simple steps, and with fresh strawberries, olive oil, lemon, and common pantry seasonings, this strawberry vinaigrette recipe is as easy to make and approachable as it is sweet, zesty, and bright.
Toss the dressing with fresh greens, crumbled feta, goat, or bleu cheese, toasted nuts, or drizzle it over freshly grilled meats for a fruity and tangy finish. Swap it for your traditional pasta salad dressing, or serve it with warm and crusty bread and charcuterie for elevated snacking.
For more delicious vinaigrette recipes, check out my tomato vinaigrette, blueberry vinaigrette, miso vinaigrette, maple vinaigrette, and lemon tahini salad dressing.
Ingredients
Strawberries: The best strawberries are fresh and ripe, with a deep-red hue and firm flesh. Choose in-season fruit for the best sweet and juicy berry flavor.
Smooth Dijon Mustard: Adds dimension and light notes of pepper to balance out the dressing. You can also use whole grain Dijon.
White Wine Vinegar: Contributes acid and elevated dry white wine notes, which complement the sweetness of the berries and create the classic tart dressing flavor. Substitute apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar if desired.
Lemon Zest: For light citrus flavor that enhances the juicy berry flavor like a dream. Use fresh zest for the best flavor.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Choose this least-processed olive oil for a rich, savory dressing base. Avocado oil can be substituted if desired, but it won't offer the same full flavor.
Sugar (Optional): Sweeten the strawberry salad dressing recipe to taste if desired. Sweet in-season berries may not need any extra sugar, whereas out-of-season berries may benefit from 1-2 teaspoons.
Dried Herbs (Optional): If desired, pulse in dried tarragon or basil before serving for an herbal finish to the dressing, perfect for fresh summer salads!
How to Make Strawberry Vinaigrette
For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: Add the white wine vinegar, strawberries, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and salt to a blender or food processor.
Step 2: Blend for 15-30 seconds or until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor bowl as needed.
Step 3: Slowly drizzle in the olive oil with the blender or food processor running on low speed.
Step 4: Add sugar to the vinaigrette to taste. Pulse to combine.
Step 5: If desired, pulse in the dried tarragon or basil. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving.
Recipe Pro-Tips
- Use Fresh Berries: Opt for berries with smooth skin and minimal blemishes. They will provide the best flavor. I prefer to make this dressing right after purchasing the berries and storing it until serving.
- Sweeten to Taste: Taste the dressing after blending and add additional sugar as desired to achieve your desired flavor. If you'd rather sweeten naturally, use agave syrup, maple syrup, or honey.
Recipe Variations
- Mixed Berry: Swap fresh raspberries, blackberries, or pitted cherries for all or part of the strawberries.
- Citrus: Switch up the flavor notes by substituting orange or lime zest for the lemon.
- Fresh Herbs: Stir in fresh sliced basil or tarragon for the dried whenever on hand for an extra pop of herbal flavor.
Storage Directions
Leftovers keep covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. They do not freeze well. If you don't anticipate using all of the vinaigrette within 4-5 days, you can halve the recipe or share the extras with friends to minimize waste.
FAQs
The most common mistake when making vinaigrette is to whisk or blend in the oil too quickly. Doing so will increase the chances that the dressing splits. Instead, keep the blender or food processor running on low while you very slowly drizzle in the oil for a perfectly emulsified dressing.
You can control how much sugar (or not) is in strawberry vinaigrette. You may not need to add any sugar if using fresh and sweet berries. For more tart berries, the most you will need is 1-2 teaspoons.
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Recipe Card
Strawberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 cups rinsed and hulled strawberries
- 1 teaspoon smooth Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½-2 teaspoons granulated sugar optional
- ½ teaspoon dried tarragon or basil optional
Instructions
- Add the white wine vinegar, strawberries, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and salt to a blender or food processor. Blend for 15-30 seconds or until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the blender or food processor bowl as needed.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil with the blender or food processor running on low speed.
- Add sugar to the vinaigrette to taste. Pulse to combine.
- If desired, pulse in the dried tarragon or basil. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving.
