4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

By: Denise Bustard7 Comments
Posted: 5/28/20Updated: 8/23/20

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This 4 ingredient balsamic vinaigrette recipe is ready in under 5 minutes and is so much tastier than the store-bought stuff! The perfect blend of savory, sweet and tangy, it's sure to be a staple in your fridge.

A good dressing can take a salad from boring to flavor bomb in 2.5 seconds. Our favorite dressings include this tangy cilantro lime dressing and this Asian sesame dressing. When we need a classic salad dressing that goes with almost anything? This balsamic vinaigrette fits the bill!

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (1)

This classic balsamic vinaigrette goes well on a strawberry arugula steak salad as well as on a caprese chicken salad, but that's really just the start...it's so versatile, it works well on any salad!

With four pantry staples that you probably already have on hand, it's super simple to whip up and keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Why you’ll ♡ this balsamic vinaigrette

  • it's ready in 5 minutes or less using simple pantry ingredients
  • you can make it up to 2 weeks ahead
  • you can adjust the vinegar to make it more or less tangy

Don't forget to pin this recipe to save it for later!

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2)

Simple ingredients you'll need

  • olive oil- go for a good quality oil for your dressing, like an extra virgin olive oil.
  • balsamic vinegar- if possible, opt for a good quality balsamic vinegar as well. The poor quality balsamic vinegars are watery and thin in texture and in flavor. Here's a great article on picking a good quality balsamic vinegar!
  • dijon mustard- this adds the magical pizzazz to all my vinaigrettes. Dijon acts as an emulsifier, which simply means it helps the oil and vinegar stay together for longer. If the oil and vinegar separate, your salad will not have the right flavor; it will be oily in places and overly-tangy in other places. Dijon also adds a certain 'je ne sais quoi' flavor to the dressing, and doesn't taste like mustard at all. Don't skip it!
  • maple syrup (or honey)- a little sweetness is needed to tame the tanginess. Honey and maple syrup are easily interchangeable in most vinaigrettes at the same ratio. Brown sugar also works in a pinch!

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (3)

Oil to vinegar ratio

Traditional vinaigrettes have an oil to vinegar ratio of 3:1 but I find this far too mild. If I'm putting the effort into making a vinaigrette from scratch, I want to be able to taste it, and I prefer at 1:1 ratio

Consider the oil to vinegar ratio to be flexible, and play around with it to get your perfect balsamic vinaigrette.

  • tangy and bold- 1:1 ratio of vinegar to oil
  • milder- 1:2 ratio of vinegar to oil
  • traditional (+ very mild)- 1:3 ratio of vinegar to oil

Storage

You can prep this balsamic vinaigrette ahead and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to triple (or even quadruple) the batch so that I always have some on hand!

While storing in the fridge, your oil and vinegar will separate. Simply give your vinaigrette a shake up until the oil and vinegar are mixed back together evenly before drizzling onto your salad.

Salad

This balsamic vinaigrette goes well on pretty much any salad you can think of, and pairs especially well with something sweet. I love using it with tomatoes and fresh basil, on a fresh berry salad, and paired with feta cheese.

Here are some tasty ways to use balsamic vinaigrette

  • Pasta Salad
  • Kale Salad
  • Caprese Salad
  • Farro Salad

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (4)

Pictured above is this Chicken Caprese Quinoa Salad

Variations

Take your balsamic vinaigrette from classic to creative with one of these recipe variations:

  • swap the balsamic vinegar for a raspberry balsamic vinegar. Or turn it into a Fresh Raspberry Basil Vinaigrette!
  • add a clove of crushed garlic
  • make it spicy with ½ teaspoon of cayenne
  • add in some citrus zest
  • add in some herbs like oregano or basil. Adding fresh herbs such as mint to the salad can really contrast the vinaigrette flavors.

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (5)

More dressings + vinaigrette recipes

  • Easy Homemade Red Wine Vinaigrette
  • White Wine Vinaigrette (my FAVORITE all purpose vinaigrette)
  • 5-Minute Asian Salad Dressing
  • Fresh Rasbperry Basil Vinaigrette
  • Roasted Strawberry Black Pepper Vinaigrette

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (6)

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe

4.75 from 4 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Total Time: 5 minutes mins

Print Rate

4 ingredient balsamic vinaigrette is ready in under 5 minutes and is so much tastier than the store-bought stuff! The perfect blend of savory, sweet and tangy.

8

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (*see alternative ratios in notes)
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar (good quality; *see alternative ratios in notes)
  • ½ tespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or honey)
  • salt & pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Shake together all ingredients in a mason jar or salad dressing container.

  • Use immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Tips:

Alternative vinegar to oil ratios:

  • 1:2 (less tangy)- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar + 6 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1:3 (traditional + mild)- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar + 6 tablespoons olive oil

Variations

  • swap the balsamic vinegar for a raspberry balsamic vinegar. Or turn it into a Fresh Raspberry Basil Vinaigrette!
  • add a clove of crushed garlic
  • make it spicy with ½ teaspoon of cayenne
  • add in some citrus zest
  • add in some herbs like oregano or basil. Adding fresh herbs such as mint to the salad can really contrast the vinaigrette flavors.

Storage

Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give it a good shake up before drizzling onto your salad.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 2tablespoons, Calories: 80kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Fat: 6g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 20mg, Sugar: 4g, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Author: Denise Bustard

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

  1. Lisa says

    4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (13)
    I liked this recipe, but I'm glad I first tried it with only 1 tbsp maple syrup, or this would have been FAR too sweet for me... Other than that, I followed it and enjoyed it! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Hi Lisa! I'm so surprised it was sweet for you, were you by chance using a sweet balsamic vinegar? I'm glad you enjoyed it with less maple syrup!

      Reply

  2. Marva at cooking lover says

    Great blog.Balsamic vinegar i like best.But before i don't know how find to making vinegar.This blog helps me vinegar making recipe.Thanks for your sharing.

    Reply

  3. Gabby Gott says

    4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (14)
    Oh my goodness, this is pretty much exactly what I make for my regular dressing. SO good! Great minds think alike 😉 Yum!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Can't beat the simple classic recipes, right?

      Reply

  4. Jenn L says

    4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (15)
    You're a dressing goddess! Love how bold and flavorful this dressing is!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Bahaha! I like that title very much. Thanks, Jenn!

      Reply

4 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make Jamie Oliver balsamic dressing? ›

BALSAMIC DRESSING

Put 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar into a jam jar with a pinch of sea salt and black pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well.

What can I use if I don't have balsamic vinaigrette? ›

For every 1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar, substitute 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus ½ tsp. sugar.

How do you make balsamic vinegar from scratch? ›

The classic balsamic fermentation: the grapes are fermented, after a few days the juice is pressed and thickened to a certain sugar content. Then a short alcoholic fermentation takes place, followed by fermentation to vinegar. Particularly important is the subsequent storage in different wooden barrels over many years.

Is it OK to mix olive oil and balsamic vinegar? ›

Make a Vinaigrette

Mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar (of course this may be adjusted per your taste) for a wonderful compliment to your salads.

What's the difference between balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette? ›

Balsamic vinegar is pure vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is dark brown in color and has a very robust, slightly sweet flavor. Balsamic vinaigrette is a mixture made with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and/or other spices. It is typically used as a salad dressing but has other uses in the kitchen as well.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when making vinaigrette? ›

12 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Making Homemade Vinaigrette
  • Estimating measurements for all ingredients. inspiredbyart/Shutterstock. ...
  • Using the wrong oil. ...
  • Using the wrong vinegar. ...
  • Leaving out the emulsifier. ...
  • Skipping the mustard. ...
  • Forgetting to check expiration dates. ...
  • Not using fresh herbs. ...
  • Using vinaigrette only on salad.
Aug 18, 2022

Which vinegar is best for vinaigrette? ›

In addition to white wine vinegar, red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

What is classic vinaigrette made of? ›

Put the mustard, vinegar and olive oil in a jar and season. Shake vigorously to mix. Store in a cool place (not the fridge) until ready to use. Use for all your salads or try one of our recipes, right.

Can I use Worcestershire sauce instead of balsamic vinegar? ›

Worcestershire Sauce

As with soy sauce, you can always try adding a drizzle of lemon juice and sweetener to Worcestershire to help it replicate balsamic vinegar's flavor more closely.

Can you use malt vinegar instead of balsamic vinegar? ›

Both vinegars will have the tartness from the acetic acid they contain. But balsamic vinegar has a high sugar content from the grape must used in making it. Malt vinegar has virtually no sugar. If you wanted to come a bit closer to the balsamic flavors, you could add a bit of sugar.

Can I use white wine vinegar instead of balsamic vinegar? ›

If your recipe calls for balsamic vinegar and you only have red or white wine vinegar on hand, add a little sweetener like honey or sugar to even out the taste. You can also mix one tablespoon of wine vinegar with two teaspoons of maple syrup to sweeten it naturally.

What is the mother of the balsamic vinegar? ›

Mother of vinegar is a biofilm composed of a form of cellulose, yeast, and bacteria that sometimes develops on fermenting alcoholic liquids during the process that turns alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen from the air and acetic acid bacteria (AAB).

Can you make balsamic vinegar yourself? ›

Making balsamic vinaigrette is super easy and only takes 4 ingredients and a jar suitable for shaking to complete the process. If you're really dedicated, you can even make your own balsamic vinegar. The entire process takes at least 12 years, but it's a rewarding project if you stick with it.

What are the rules for balsamic vinegar? ›

The “standard” aging time is twelve years and that which is aged over twenty–five years is adorned with the words “Extra Vecchio.” It must be contained in a special 100ml bottle adorned with a seal of authenticity from the Consortium of Producers of Traditional Balsamic Vinegars from Modena.

What is balsamic vinegar dressing made of? ›

Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe Ingredients

Balsamic vinegar – It fills the dressing with bold, sweet, and tangy flavor. Extra-virgin olive oil – It gives the dressing body and richness. Dijon mustard – For extra tang. Honey or maple syrup – It mellows the acidity of the mustard and balsamic.

What is the right mix of oil and vinegar? ›

Oil and Vinegar are essential in creating an optimal emulsion – where the two ingredients bind together so well that you can't separate them even when shaken vigorously. An optimal emulsion happens when you combine these ingredients in equal parts with a ratio of three parts oil to one part vinegar (3:1).

Do you put balsamic vinegar or olive oil first? ›

In a pretty shallow bowl or plate, pour the olive oil then drizzle the balsamic vinegar dressing around and across the pool of olive oil. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and season, if desired.

What should be the first ingredient in balsamic vinegar? ›

Instead, the first ingredient in a bottle of good balsamic vinegar should be cooked grape must.

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