This No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing is tangy and sweet. You can make it ahead and tweak the recipe to your preference, making it perfect for your salads, veggies, and marinades.
This No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing is the perfect combination of sweetness and tanginess. It's also a healthy alternative to other oil or cream-based salad dressings. If you like salad for its flavor and health benefits, a lot of store-bought dressings can sabotage your efforts because there is so much saturated fat, corn syrup, and other additions. Making your own salad dressing is a great way to enjoy the flavor without the unhealthy ingredients.
You can also make this No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing to fit your tastes. You can add other herbs or ingredients to the three basics I've listed here. While I love this dressing just as is, it's also really versatile. It can be used for other applications besides salads, which we'll talk more about later on. But first, let's take a look at the three simple ingredients that make this No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing so tasty.
Video Tutorial
Main Ingredients
Balsamic Vinegar. You can try using flavored balsamic vinegars for extra pops of flavor. I've tried this Organic Flavored Balsamic Vinegar set and it's very tasty.
Mustard. You can use your favorite kind. I prefer using Dijon for this dressing.
Maple Syrup. For sweetness to balance the vinegar tang. It could be substituted with honey, too.
How to make this Salad Dressing
1. Place the dressing ingredients into a Mason jar. Screw the top on tight and shake well. Serve and enjoy!
Why this recipe is so tasty
The simple flavors in this dressing are what makes it so good. But you can also adjust it to your own preferences. Try making it a little sweeter with some extra maple syrup or honey, or a little tangier with more vinegar. The rule of thumb is to keep close to the 3:2:1 proportions: three parts balsamic vinegar to two parts mustard to one part maple syrup. This will keep the ingredients in balance with each other and the right consistency of the dressing.
Add-ins for this Dressing
- Garlic. Fresh minced garlic is a terrific addition to the No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing. It gives a hit of flavor and blends well with the other ingredients.
- Oregano. This spice is very pungent and earthy, which is perfect if you want this dressing to have a flavor that leans toward Italian dressing.
- Crushed Red Pepper. Add some heat to this dressing with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Lemon juice. This adds bright, citrusy notes to your salad dressing and can be a flavorful add-in. Just be careful to balance this tangy fruit juice with the already tangy balsamic.
- Fresh/dried herbs. You can use so many different herbs in this balsamic dressing, such as basil, dill, rosemary, sage, and so many more. See what flavors you like best.
Other uses for Balsamic Dressing
There are some other excellent uses for this No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing, including:
- Marinade. You can use this dressing as a marinade for meats, such as pork or chicken. Just place the meat in a bowl or bag of dressing and allow it to marinate for a few hours before cooking.
- Reduction. Heating this No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing in a sauce pan until it reduces down is another possibility. Drizzle it over vegetables and proteins.
- Saute vegetables. Mushrooms, broccoli, and asparagus are just some of the veggies that taste delicious when sauteed in this No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing.
- Dip. Dip crusty bread or rolls in this balsamic dressing as a tasty appetizer.
How to Store it
This dressing can be stored right in the Mason jar you make it in. Just keep it tightly sealed and in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for up to 2 weeks. When you're ready to use it, just shake the jar to recombine the ingredients.
This No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing is such a flavorful addition to salads, veggies, bread, and meats. You can enjoy it as is or adjust it with your favorite add-ins. It's simple and easy and sure to enhance whatever dish you use it in.
More tasty recipes to try:
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
- Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing
- Best Strawberry Dressing
No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
Instructions
- Place the dressing ingredients into a Mason jar. Screw the top on tight and shake well. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
ADD-INS FOR THIS DRESSING
- Garlic. Fresh minced garlic is a terrific addition to the No Oil Balsamic Salad Dressing. It gives a hit of flavor and blends well with the other ingredients.
- Oregano. This spice is very pungent and earthy, which is perfect if you want this dressing to have a flavor that leans toward Italian dressing.
- Crushed Red Pepper. Add some heat to this dressing with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Lemon juice. This adds bright, citrusy notes to your salad dressing and can be a flavorful add-in. Just be careful to balance this tangy fruit juice with the already tangy balsamic.
- Fresh/dried herbs. You can use so many different herbs in this balsamic dressing, such as basil, dill, rosemary, sage, and so many more. See what flavors you like best.
I made this using Stevia because my diet does not include sugar and it is fabulous!
Perfect! Thanks for sharing, Jean!