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This easy, 5-minute orange vinaigrette is a game-changer! Fresh, sweet, tangy, bold, and totally delicious, like a splash of sunshine over any salad!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The right salad dressing has the power to transform bland leafy greens into a meal you’re excited to eat – and who needs store-bought salad dressings when you can make your own? Like this bright and bold, zesty orange vinaigrette at home in just minutes with only 6 pantry-friendly ingredients!
This orange balsamic salad dressing is sweet, tangy, and bursting with citrus flavor while remaining free from added sugar, preservatives, or fillings. It’s also dairy-free, vegan, healthy, and versatile enough to be enjoyed with salads, roasted veggies, or even as a marinade.
Looking for more flavorful salad dressings? You might enjoy my bold ginger salad dressing, umami-rich easy miso tahini dressing, vegan Italian dressing, avocado green goddess dressing, or bright lemon dressing.
Ingredient Notes
Recipe Variations
- Other citrus: i.e., use a blend of orange and lemon, sub grapefruit, make blood orange vinaigrette, etc. Swap based on seasonality/what’s available.
- Sweetness: To balance the tang in the balsamic orange vinaigrette, add some maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar, etc. A sugar alternative (like erythritol) would also work.
- Other vinegar: Try white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar for a slight flavor twist.
- Orange poppy seed dressing: Add texture, nutrients, and flavor with 1 tsp seeds.
- Orange sesame vinaigrette: Add some sesame oil, tahini, and maple syrup.
- Cranberry orange vinaigrette: Stir in some cranberry sauce for sweet tart depth.
- Orange miso vinaigrette: Add 1-2 tsp sweet white miso for heaps of umami depth.
- Vegan mayonnaise/Greek yogurt: Add 1-2 tbsp for creamy orange vinaigrette.
- Ginger: Add a little fiery zing to this orange vinaigrette recipe with minced ginger.
- Basil: Finely chopped or blended into the orange dressing for a touch of freshness.
How to Make Orange Vinaigrette
Step 1: First, zest, then juice the orange and transfer both (just 1 tsp orange zest) to a lidded jar or small bowl.
Step 2: Add the remaining dressing ingredients (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, water, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper) to the jar/bowl. Whisk (in a bowl) or shake (in the jar) the orange balsamic dressing until fully combined. Finally, taste and adjust any ingredient.
Make sure the orange is unwaxed; otherwise, you’ll need to remove that first (FAQs).
For the best flavor, leave the orange vinaigrette dressing to meld for an hour before serving.
FAQs
Sure, but I prefer to use fresh orange juice, where possible, for the best flavor.
Yes! This orange dressing would also work well with roasted vegetables, stirred into grains or pasta, to marinate tofu, and even with fruity dishes.
Soak the fruit in warm/hot water for 4-5 minutes, gently scrub it with a vegetable brush, and rinse thoroughly.
Recipe Notes
- Adjust to taste: Try it and adjust any element to your preferred flavor.
- Let it rest: I recommend leaving the orange juice salad dressing for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Shake/whisk between servings: It will separate while it sits, so make sure to stir or shake it well before serving each time.
Serving Suggestions
This vibrant orange salad dressing is tasty and versatile enough for:
- Roasted sweet potato salad
- Strawberry kale salad
- Easy apple pecan salad
- Sweet potato and kale salad
- Easy butternut squash salad
- Rainbow salad
- Kale quinoa salad
- Vegan broccoli salad
- Shaved Brussel sprout slaw with apples
Storage Instructions
Store: In an airtight container/jar in the refrigerator for 3-4 days (using fresh orange juice) or 7-10 days (using bottled juice), shaking/whisking between serving.
If the oil hardens in the fridge, bring the orange dressing to room temp OR add a teaspoon of boiling water.
Freeze: In 1-2 tablespoon portions in an ice cube tray, then in a Ziplock/Stasher for up to 3 months.
Easy Orange Vinaigrette
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large orange zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of water
- 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
Instructions
- Juice the orange into a jar with a lid and add 1 teaspoon of orange zest.
- Add the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, water, Dijon mustard, black pepper, and salt. Close it with the lid and shake it until all of the ingredients are fully combined.
Notes
- Adjust to taste: Try it and adjust any element to your preferred flavor.
- Let it rest: I recommend leaving the orange juice salad dressing for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Shake/whisk between servings: It will separate while it sits, so make sure to stir or shake it well before serving each time.
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