Balsamic Vinaigrette With Basil

This balsamic vinaigrette with fresh basil is vibrant, sweet, bold, tangy, and luxurious. Perfect for salads, pasta, or roasted vegetables.

How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette

Making your own balsamic vinaigrette with basil is easy and healthy. Knowing what goes in your dressing is valuable because store-bought dressings contain a lot of bad ingredients. Also, it is always nice to have a fresh, homemade dressing that brings vibrant flavors to your favorite salads. Whether you’re whipping up a pasta salad for a summer picnic or drizzling it over a caprese salad or burrata salad, this homemade dressing is full of fresh ingredients and far better than any store-bought salad dressing.

Why Make Your Own Dressing?

The beauty of homemade salad dressing is in its simplicity. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can create a flavorful balsamic vinaigrette dressing that makes any dish just delicious! Store-bought dressing often includes preservatives, caramel color, or xanthan gum to enhance texture, but making your own balsamic vinaigrette gives you control over every ingredient. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the fresh taste of extra virgin olive oil paired with aged balsamic vinegar.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Use high-quality olive oil for the best flavor.
• Aged Balsamic Vinegar: A good balsamic vinegar has a deep, sweet, and tangy flavor. Real balsamic vinegar is aged for many years, so the older the balsamic, the better the flavor. Pay attention to what is written on the label. Often, the cheap balsamic sold at the store is only aged for 2 years and is watery. The older the balsamic is, the more syrupy it gets. More about balsamic vinegar here. If you want to know more about how to use vinegar for cooking click here.
• Fresh Basil: Basil and balsamic go very well together. Basil adds a burst of freshness and a slightly peppery flavor that pairs beautifully with the balsamic vinegar.
• Maple Syrup or Honey: Maple syrup is a lovely addition for a touch of sweetness. It balances the acidity of the vinegar and creates a more rounded flavor. (optional)
• Garlic Clove: Fresh garlic adds a punch of flavor. You can use a small bowl to mash it into a paste for easy mixing or simply mince it finely.
• Dijon Mustard: A spoonful of Dijon mustard adds creaminess and helps emulsify the dressing, keeping the oil and vinegar from separating.
• Sea Salt and Organic Black Pepper: Season to taste for a perfect balance of flavors.

How to Make Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

This dressing is incredibly easy to make. You can whisk it together in a mason jar, shake it well, or blend it with a food processor or immersion blender for a creamier texture.

1. In a small bowl, whisk balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, sea salt, and black pepper.
2. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil and whisk constantly until the dressing is emulsified.
3. Finely chop the fresh basil and stir it into the dressing.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. For a touch of sweetness, add salt, pepper, or maple syrup.

If you do not have real balsamic vinegar, you can add a spoonful of balsamic glaze for a thicker dressing. This will give the vinaigrette a richer, more intense balsamic flavor.

Storing Your Balsamic Vinaigrette

This basil balsamic vinaigrette can be stored in the fridge for up to two weeks in an airtight container, like a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Make sure to shake before using it, as the oil and vinegar may separate over time. You can also freeze it in small portions if you prefer to make large batches in advance.

Ways to Use Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Pasta Salad: Drizzle this vinaigrette over your favorite pasta salad for a light and flavorful dressing that complements the pasta and veggies.
• Caprese Salad or Burrata Salad: Use it to enhance a classic caprese salad or burrata salad with fresh mozzarella or burrata cheese, tomatoes, and basil.
• Kale Salad: This vinaigrette is perfect for hearty greens like kale or spinach, adding some sweetness to bitter dark, leafy greens.
• Goat Cheese Salad: The tanginess of goat cheese and the sweetness of balsamic vinaigrette are a match made in heaven.
• Sheet Pan Brussels Sprouts: For a warm salad, roast Brussels sprouts on a sheet pan and toss them with this vinaigrette right before serving.
• Everyday Salads: Whether it’s a simple leafy green salad or something more elaborate with blue cheese, or red onion, this dressing will take your salad to the next level.

Why Did I Add Fresh Basil?

I just love basil and anything basil. Basil and balsamic vinegar, to me, are like twins. They are just perfect together. Basil brings a vibrant, fresh, herbaceous flavor that elevates the dressing. Basil’s slightly sweet, peppery, and minty notes beautifully complement the rich tang of balsamic vinegar and the smoothness of extra virgin olive oil. The freshness of basil lightens the overall taste, making the vinaigrette more lively and refreshing, perfect for salads or drizzling over vegetables. It also enhances the aroma, giving the dressing an enticing, garden-fresh quality that store-bought dressings often lack.

In the best possible way, this easy balsamic vinaigrette recipe brings out the bold, tangy flavors of balsamic vinegar dressing while offering the fresh, summery notes of basil. Once you start making your own homemade dressings, you’ll find it hard to return to store-bought alternatives. So next time you’re looking for a versatile vinaigrette for your spinach salad, kale salad, or even a piece of leafy lettuce, reach for this delicious basil balsamic vinaigrette!

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