This homemade citrus vinaigrette with lemon and orange is packed with flavor and so simple to make. You’ll never want to use the store-bought version again!
Do you ever make your own salad dressings?
If you haven’t tried it yet, this homemade citrus vinaigrette is the perfect recipe to get you started! It’s a delicious blend of orange and lemon that will go well with so many dishes.
I love being able to play around with flavors and find the perfect combination. Plus, when you make your own dressing, you know it doesn’t have any added sugar, fillers, or preservatives like store-bought versions.
Just simple, delicious ingredients you can feel good about!
And making your own dressing is so simple. You simply combine the ingredients and shake it all up. It’s faster than driving to the store to buy new dressing… and probably saves you a few dollars, too!
Ready to see just how easy it is to make this flavorful vinaigrette?
How to make homemade citrus vinaigrette
All you need for this recipe are a few ingredients and a small jar with a lid. It all comes together in just three simple steps!
Step 1: Combine the minced shallots, oil, vinegar, freshly squeezed orange juice, and lemon zest (if using) in a small jar with a screw-top lid. You could also use a salad shaker.
Step 2: Close the lid tightly, then shake the jar vigorously until the vinaigrette is well-blended.
Step 3: Season to taste with salt and pepper.
It’s seriously that easy! Now that you know you can make your own dressings and vinaigrettes in a matter of minutes, you’ll never need to buy them from the store again.
Customizing the flavor
I love the flavors of this vinaigrette. But it’s also fun to get creative and experiment with other combinations!
You can easily tweak the ratios of the orange juice and lemon vinegar or zest. If you prefer something more tart, try using half freshly squeezed orange juice and half lemon juice.
You could also add lime juice for an additional citrus flavor.
Another great way to experiment with salad dressings and vinaigrettes is to try different flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars.
For this recipe, I used plain extra-virgin olive oil with Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic. I also tried another version with Meyer Lemon olive oil and Champagne vinegar instead. Both were fabulous!
There are lots of stores that sell flavored olive oils and vinegars. Many even let you taste test the different options before you buy! If you stock up on a few flavors, you can have a lot of fun creating dressings, vinaigrettes, marinades, and more.
What to eat with this vinaigrette
This delicious lemon and orange flavored vinaigrette goes well with so many dishes!
One of my favorite ways to use it is on a spinach salad. The combination of the bright vinaigrette and the earthy spinach is just fantastic.
For a heartier dish, this vinaigrette also goes really well with black beans and grains like brown rice and quinoa.
Storage
This vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The lemon will act as a natural preservative, but to ensure maximum freshness, the vinaigrette should be used within a week.
Separation is natural, so always be sure to give the jar a good shake before serving.
Other healthy salad dressing recipes
Now that you know how easy it is to make your own salad dressings at home, you’re probably looking for more inspiration! Here are a few of my favorite recipes that I think you’ll enjoy:
You can also take a look at my roundup of easy diabetes-friendly salad dressings. It has 10 great recipes and a list of low-carb store-bought dressings.
When you’ve tried this vinaigrette, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!
Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 small shallot (finely minced)
- ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup lemon-flavored white balsamic vinegar (or white wine vinegar or Champagne vinegar)
- 5 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (may omit if using lemon-flavored vinegar)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the minced shallots, oil, vinegar, fresh squeezed orange juice, and lemon zest (if using) in a small jar with a screw-top lid. You could also use a salad shaker.
- Close the lid tightly, then shake the jar vigorously until the vinaigrette is well-blended.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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