Make This Zippy Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe in 5 Minutes Flat

Strawberry vinaigrette revolutionizes ordinary salads into vibrant culinary experiences with its delightful sweet-tangy profile.

Fresh berries blend seamlessly with zesty vinegar, creating a condiment that elevates simple greens to gourmet status.

The bright crimson mixture captures summer’s essence in every delectable drizzle.

homemade versions provide unparalleled freshness compared to store-bought alternatives, allowing complete control over ingredients and flavor intensity.

Crafting this condiment requires minimal kitchen skills and just a few pantry staples.

Whisking together these components takes mere minutes, making it an accessible recipe for home cooks of all skill levels.

Rich with natural sweetness and complex undertones, this vinaigrette promises to revolutionize your salad game.

Simple Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette That Brightens Any Salad

• Burst of Fresh Flavor: Capture the vibrant essence of ripe strawberries in every drizzle, creating a tangy-sweet dressing that transforms ordinary salads into extraordinary culinary experiences.
• Quick and Effortless Preparation: Whip up this vinaigrette in less than a minute using a blender, making it an ideal solution for busy home cooks craving homemade, preservative-free dressings.
• Versatile Refrigerator Staple: Store this bright, zesty vinaigrette for up to 5 days, ensuring you always have a delicious, fresh topping ready to elevate salads, grain bowls, or as a dipping sauce for appetizers.
• Wholesome and Natural Ingredients: Enjoy a clean-eating condiment packed with fresh strawberries and natural lime zest, providing a healthier alternative to store-bought dressings loaded with artificial additives.

Everything You Need for Strawberry Vinaigrette

• Fresh Strawberries: Sweet and ripe berries that provide the primary flavor and natural sweetness for the vinaigrette.
• Fresh Lime: Bright citrus that adds tangy balance and enhances the overall flavor profile.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: High-quality oil that creates smooth texture and carries the vinaigrette's flavors. Choose a mild, fruity variety for best results.
• White Balsamic Vinegar: Provides gentle acidity and subtle sweetness. Light color keeps the vinaigrette's vibrant strawberry hue.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that helps balance the vinaigrette's tartness. Local, raw honey offers deeper flavor complexity.

• Salt: Enhances and rounds out all the flavors. Use fine sea salt for even distribution.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and depth. Freshly ground provides more robust taste.
• Lime Zest: Concentrated citrus essence that intensifies the lime's bright notes. Use only the green part for maximum flavor.

How to Make Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette in Minutes

Step 1: Prepare Strawberries

Wash strawberries thoroughly. Remove stems and slice into smaller pieces to help blending process.

Step 2: Combine In Blender

• Strawberries
• Olive oil
• White wine vinegar
• Honey
• Lime juice
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 3: Blend Until Creamy

Secure blender lid. Pulse and blend for 20-30 seconds until mixture becomes smooth and vibrant pink color.

Step 4: Taste And Adjust

Sample vinaigrette. Add extra honey for sweetness or vinegar for tanginess if needed. Stir gently to incorporate additional seasonings.

Step 5: Store Properly

Transfer vinaigrette to clean glass jar with tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate up to 5 days. Shake well before each use to remix separated ingredients.

Step 6: Serving Suggestions

Drizzle over fresh salads, use as marinade for grilled chicken, or as dipping sauce for summer vegetables. Perfect for healthy meal prep and quick dining.

Tips for Balancing Sweet and Tangy in Strawberry Vinaigrette

• Maximize Freshness: Use ripe, in-season strawberries for the most vibrant and intense flavor profile.
• Zest with Care: Grate lime zest carefully to avoid the bitter white pith, focusing only on the bright green outer layer.
• Strain for Silkiness: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds and create an ultra-smooth texture.
• Adjust Consistency: Add a splash of water if the vinaigrette is too thick, or include more strawberries if it's too thin.
• Quick Flavor Boost: Experiment with adding a small amount of honey or fresh mint to enhance the dressing's complexity and depth.

How to Store Strawberry Vinaigrette and Keep It Fresh

• Refrigerator Storage: Transfer leftover vinaigrette to an airtight glass container with a tight-fitting lid. Keep chilled in the refrigerator for maximum freshness, maintaining its vibrant flavor for up to 5 days.
• Shake Before Serving: Natural separation occurs during storage, so always give the vinaigrette a vigorous shake or stir before using to restore its smooth, well-blended consistency.
• Freezing Option: While possible, freezing is not recommended as it can alter the texture and break down the delicate strawberry emulsion. Fresh is always best for this delightful homemade dressing.

Great Salads to Serve with Strawberry Vinaigrette

• Enhance Salad Freshness: Pair this vibrant strawberry vinaigrette with a crisp mixed green salad featuring baby spinach, arugula, and radicchio for a delightful flavor explosion.
• Cheese Companion: Crumble some tangy goat cheese or creamy feta over your salad to complement the sweet-tart notes of the vinaigrette, creating a balanced and luxurious taste experience.
• Wine and Dine Harmony: Serve alongside a chilled glass of rosé or a light Pinot Grigio to elevate the fruity undertones of the vinaigrette and refresh your palate with each bite.
• Protein Perfect Match: Top the salad with grilled chicken, seared salmon, or candied pecans to add texture and richness that beautifully contrasts the vinaigrette's bright, zesty profile.

Strawberry Vinaigrette Variations for Every Season

• Tropical Berry Splash: Swap strawberries with ripe mangoes and add a dash of passion fruit juice for a vibrant, Caribbean-inspired dressing that transforms any salad.
• Herb Garden Fusion: Incorporate fresh basil or mint leaves while blending to create an aromatic vinaigrette that brings garden-fresh flavors to your greens.
• Spicy Strawberry Kick: Blend in a small jalapeño pepper or a pinch of cayenne for those who love a zesty, warm undertone that elevates the strawberry's natural sweetness.
• Creamy Dreamy Version: Mix in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt or avocado to create a luscious, silky texture that adds richness and depth to the classic vinaigrette.

Simple Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe

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4.6 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Homemade strawberry vinaigrette brings fresh garden sweetness to salads with Mediterranean charm. Tangy berries and silky olive oil create a light, zesty dressing that elevates any green ensemble you’ll want to savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• ¾ cup fresh strawberries (hulled and chopped)
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Sweeteners and Citrus:

• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup
• 1.5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons lime zest

Seasoning:

• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 pinch ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Gather fresh, ripe strawberries and thoroughly wash them to remove any dirt or debris, ensuring peak flavor and cleanliness.
2. Add all ingredients into a high-performance blender, carefully measuring each component to maintain the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
3. Finely grate the lime zest directly into the blender, releasing its aromatic essential oils for enhanced taste complexity.
4. Secure the blender lid tightly and pulse initially to break down larger strawberry pieces, preventing splashing and promoting even blending.
5. Blend the mixture on high speed for 25 to 35 seconds, creating a silky-smooth consistency with no visible fruit chunks or texture irregularities.
6. Stop the blender and scrape down the sides with a flexible spatula to incorporate any unmixed ingredients, ensuring a uniform vinaigrette.
7. Taste the vinaigrette and adjust seasoning if needed, potentially adding a pinch of salt or extra honey to balance the flavors.
8. Transfer the freshly blended vinaigrette into a clean glass jar with an airtight lid, which helps preserve its vibrant color and fresh taste.
9. Refrigerate the vinaigrette immediately, where it will maintain optimal quality for up to 5 days when stored properly in a cold environment.
10. Before serving, gently shake the jar to recombine any natural separation and bring the vinaigrette back to its original smooth texture.

Notes

• Freshness matters most when selecting strawberries, so choose ripe, vibrant red fruits for the most intense flavor profile.
• Blending time is crucial – aim for 20-30 seconds to achieve a silky-smooth consistency without overdoing it.
• Refrigeration helps preserve the vinaigrette’s bright taste, allowing you to enjoy it up to 5 days after preparation.
• Use high-speed blender for optimal texture, ensuring all ingredients integrate seamlessly without lumps.
• Versatile dressing works beautifully on salads, as a marinade, or a dipping sauce for fresh vegetables.
• Zesting lime directly into the mixture maximizes essential oils and enhances the overall aromatic experience.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 180 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 16 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 8 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg