This raspberry vinaigrette and other easy-peasy fruit salad dressings are simple to make but taste sensational, and liven up even the most boring green-leaf salad!
The very simplest of green leaf salads can be totally transformed by a knock-your-socks-off salad dressing, and I've been making the most of all sorts of lovely fresh fruit we've had around over the last few weeks to experiment with these brightly-coloured vinaigrettes.
These fruity dressings keep well in the fridge, and are such a lovely gift to take along to a BBQ or summer lunch party - made in under 5 minutes, poured into a sterilised bottle and tied with a pretty label round the neck, they are always really well received.
Today's post has not one but five recipes in it, so you can choose whichever one you most like the look of. They all start with a basic vinaigrette recipe, with fruity combinations thrown in so why not go crazy and invent your own using whatever you have growing in the garden?
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📝 What you need
All the recipes start with a basic vinaigrette recipe, to which you add the various fruits and flavourings. For each one you will need:
- Sunflower or vegetable oil
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Vinegar - either cider or white wine (check it is vegan)
- Salt
- Mustard - wholegrain or dijon (check it is vegan)
Then add your choice of fruits:
For the raspberry vinaigrette:
- 8-10 raspberries
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
For the mango & chilli vinaigrette:
- ½ mango
- 1 fresh red chilli (half of a large chilli or a whole small chilli - adjust to your taste)
For the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette:
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 6 strawberries hulled
For the apple & thyme vinaigrette:
- 3 tbsp cloudy apple juice
- 3 stalks fresh thyme
For the blackberry vinaigrette:
- 8-10 blackberries
👩🏽🍳 Equipment
The quickest way to make these fruity salad dressings very smooth and creamy is in a mini-chopper or small blender. This does two jobs - both blitzing the fruit into a smooth purée and also emulsifying the oil and vinegar to give a thick and creamy dressing.
I use my mini chopper almost every day, for smoothies, sauces, soups and all sorts of quick chopping jobs in the kitchen. Mine is a Braun Multiquick* priced at just under £50 which is great value for money if you use it as much as I do, but you can get even cheaper ones too that will do a similar job.
Alternatively, if you don't have a blender you can make the basic vinaigrette quite easily in a jam jar - just screw the lid on tightly and shake vigorously until ready. You could then finely chop and/or mash the fruit to a puree with a fork and stir it through the dressing. The finished dressing might not be quite so smooth, but the flavour will still be fantastic.
🥗 Storing your dressings
Once made you can keep your salad dressings in the fridge for up to a week.
Alternatively, you could make a bigger batch of the basic vinaigrette recipe which keeps in the fridge for a little longer - up to 2 weeks. You could then add whatever fruity variations you like without having to measure out the quantities each time.
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🍽 If you liked that...
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📖 Recipe
Raspberry Vinaigrette and more fruity dressings
Ingredients
For the basic vinaigrette:
- 4 tbsp sunflower/vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp vinegar - either cider or white wine (check it is vegan)
- generous pinch salt
- ½ tsp mustard - wholegrain or dijon (check it is vegan)
For the raspberry vinaigrette:
- 8-10 raspberries
- 6-8 fresh mint leaves
For the mango & chilli vinaigrette:
- ½ mango
- 1 fresh red chilli (half of a large chilli or a whole small chilli - adjust to your taste)
For the apple & thyme vinaigrette:
- 3 tbsp cloudy apple juice
- 3 stalks fresh thyme
For the strawberry balsamic vinaigrette:
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 6 strawberries hulled
For the blackberry vinaigrette:
- 8-10 blackberries
Instructions
- Place all the dressing ingredients into a mini chopper, blender or food processor and blitz to a smooth, creamy dressing.
- Use immediately or keep in a bottle in the fridge for up to a week.
I love it! So easy to make and I now have many dressings to choose from! Thank you!
My guy's favorite dressing is raspberry vinaigrette. I'm so glad I found your recipe!
Wow these all sounds so delicious and creative! But that mango & chilli one and the apple & thyme one I have to try!
These are the perfect summer salad dressings! Nice and light, easy to make, and the fruit flavor is perfect!
These dressings all sound and look delicious. Will be giving the blackberry one ago as soon as blackberry season arrives.