Summer means blueberries. But it also means salads! I suppose you could just throw some blueberries on your salad and call it a summery day, but why stop there? This Balsamic Blueberry Vinaigrette is a simple yet flavorful dressing that transforms your just-another-salad into a colorful masterpiece bursting with antioxidants and deliciousness.

So let’s break down what goes into a good balsamic vinaigrette before jumping into this blueberry vinaigrette recipe:

• Balsamic: Your major flavor maker. This is a hydrophilic element, meaning it is attracted to water. Generally you’ll use 1 part balsamic to 2-3 parts oil.
• Oil: Gives the dressing a good mouth-feel (the term used for that feeling you get when eating fats) and dilutes the vinegar. This is hydrophobic, meaning it does not like water or water-like substances (like vinegar).
• Emulsifier: Balsamic is hydrophilic and oil is hydrophobic, meaning these guys don’t get along. Without something to make them stick together they’re going to separate. That’s where the emulsifier comes in. The emulsifier has a water-loving side and a water-hating side, so it gets along with both balsamic and oil, bringing the two together in happy harmony. Some good emulsifiers for vinaigrettes are:
  • Honey (we’ll use this one today because this is a sweet dressing)
  • Mustard
  • Mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper: always important
• Extra yums: Let your imagination go wild! We’re using blueberries and a touch of lemon today but the possibilities are endless.

4.5 from 2 votes

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Balsamic Blueberry Vinaigrette

This Balsamic Blueberry Vinaigrette is a simple yet flavorful dressing that transforms your just-another-salad into a colorful masterpiece bursting with antioxidants and deliciousness.

Course Dips, Sauces, and Salsas, Salads

Keyword blueberry vinaigrette

Diet Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Raw, Vegan, Vegetarian

Occasion 4th of July, Easter

Time 15 minutes or less, 30 minutes or less, 45 minutes or less

Prep Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Servings 1 cups

Calories 45 kcal

Author Live Eat Learn

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh blueberries 100 g
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 60 mL
• 2 Tbsp honey 30 g
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice 15 mL
• Pinch of salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil 120 mL

Instructions

1. Blend: In a blender, combine blueberries, vinegar, honey, lemon, salt, and pepper.

2. Emulsify: With the blender running, slowly pour in oil, and continuing blending until completely emulsified and creamy, about 30 seconds.

Notes

The fresh blueberries will cause this to go bad sooner than would a simple oil and vinegar dressing. However, this is pretty acidic, so it should stay good for longer than fresh blueberries would. Safely enjoy for about 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Balsamic Blueberry Vinaigrette

Amount Per Serving (1 Tbsp)

Calories 45 Calories from Fat 38

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 4.2g 6%

Saturated Fat 0.6g 3%

Sodium 8mg 0%

Potassium 8mg 0%

Total Carbohydrates 2.3g 1%

Dietary Fiber 0.2g 1%

Sugars 2.1g

Protein 0.1g 0%

Iron 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I posted a version of this dressing a while back that involved simply whisking the ingredients together. This makes for a blueberry vinaigrette that separates back into oil and vinegar and isn’t quite as creamy (but delicious nonetheless!)

Helpful products for this Blueberry Vinaigrette

This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I may earn a commission (at no extra cost to you! I first published this recipe over on Amanda’s Cookin’, where I’m a contribute. Thanks so much for dropping by and for making easy recipes like this Blueberry Vinaigrette possible!