It’s no secret I am a huge fan of homemade dressings and sauces. They are such an easy way to spice up a meal and by making them at home, you know exactly what goes into them. Besides, the secret to a really good salad is a homemade dressing. This maple mustard vinaigrette is such a fun change from the norm and is so delicious.
It has a touch of sweetness from the maple syrup and a little tang from the dijon mustard, giving the perfect sweet and savory balance. I developed it for this chicken quinoa salad, but really it can go on any salad, power bowl, used in coleslaw, or even be used as a marinade.
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Feel free to make a double or triple batch and store it in your fridge to have on hand to spice up your meals easily! You’ll never want to go back to store-bought dressings after making them at home!
Why you’ll love this maple mustard vinaigrette recipe
- made from 4 basic pantry staples
- ready in 10 minutes – all you need to do is mix everything up.
- it’s creamy, sweet, and tangy
- super versatile – use it as a salad dressing, on top of protein or veggies, as a marinade, and more!
What is vinaigrette?
A vinaigrette is a mixture of oil and some acid (vinegar or citrus). From there, you can add different ingredients such as spices, herbs, and more to enhance the flavors. It can be used as a salad dressing, sauce, or marinade.
Is vinaigrette healthy?
Vinaigrettes can be a healthy addition to most diets. When made with high-quality ingredients like extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and spices, they can add healthy fats and flavor to salads and other dishes. In addition, fat is needed to absorb fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Due to the higher fat content in oil, vinaigrettes can be higher in calories, and calories can add up quickly depending on how much you use. Also, some store-bought dressings can be full of preservatives, lots of added sugar, and unnecessary ingredients so it’s important to look at the ingredient label. When making it at home, you have full control over what ingredients you are using.
Ingredients
- dijon mustard
- maple syrup
- apple cider vinegar
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper
How to make mustard vinaigrette
- Make the dressing. Add all of your ingredients to a medium jar or measuring cup and whisk well to combine. You can also put the lid on the jar and shake it up. Adjust it according to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve as a salad dressing, on top of a power bowl, in coleslaw, with roasted veggies, and more!
What to use mustard vinaigrette with
- as a salad dressing – try it on this chicken quinoa salad or fall harvest salad!
- as a dressing in pasta salad, potato salad, or coleslaw
- overtop chicken, steak, pork, or salmon
- as a dip for vegetables
- as a marinade
- sauce with an easy dinner – we love serving this with some protein, some veggies, and carbs to spice up weeknight dinners
How long does vinaigrette last in the fridge?
Store the vinaigrette in a tightly sealed glass jar (I love to use the ones I mix it in) or an airtight container in the fridge. It will last for one month in the fridge.
Do I need to refrigerate vinaigrette?
Some vinaigrettes are shelf stable, but since this has mustard and maple syrup in it, it should be refrigerated.
Substitutions and additions
- dijon mustard – a whole grain mustard will work instead. I do not recommend yellow mustard.
- maple syrup – honey will work instead. This will make it more like a honey mustard dressing.
- apple cider vinegar – white wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or lemon juice will work instead. If you don’t have those, red wine vinegar will work, but it will be a little stronger.
- extra virgin olive oil – avocado oil will work instead but the flavor will change some.
Here are some additions you can add:
- garlic – fresh or garlic powder
- mustard powder – for more mustard flavor
- spices
More healthy salad dressing recipes
- coleslaw dressing with greek yogurt
- orange vinaigrette
- healthy caesar dressing
- creamy salsa dressing
- blue cheese dressing
If you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Maple Mustard Vinaigrette
equipment
ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablepsoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
instructions
- Make the dressing. Add all of your ingredients to a medium jar or measuring cup and whisk well to combine. You can also put the lid on the jar and shake it up. Adjust it according to taste.
- Enjoy! Serve as a salad dressing, on top of a power bowl, in coleslaw, with roasted veggies, and more!
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nutrition
Recipe by Kelly Nardo, Eat the Gains | Photography by Sierra Inn
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Perfect to the quinoa salad with chix and roasted squash and dates yum!
Thanks for trying it, Charli!