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Home » Salads & Dressings » Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette

Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette

Posted by: Diabetic Foodie / Salads & Dressings, Winter / October 17, 2013

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

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!

Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette in a mason jar next to a lemon and orange

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, 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.

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 fresh 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 with dried cranberries and walnuts. The combination of the bright vinaigrette and berries with the earthy spinach and walnuts 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:

  • Fruity White Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Greek Vinaigrette

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!

Recipe Card
5 from 1 vote

Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette

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!
Prep Time:2 minutes
Cook Time:3 minutes
Total Time:5 minutes
Author:Diabetic Foodie
Servings:16
Review Print

Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot (finely minced)
  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon-flavored white balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar or Champagne vinegar
  • 5 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (may omit if using lemon-flavored vinegar)
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
US Customary – Metric

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.

Recipe Notes

There are 16 servings in this recipe. Each serving is 1 tablespoon of vinaigrette.
You can customize the flavor by adding lemon or lime juice. You can also use other flavored olive oils or balsamic vinegars.
The vinaigrette should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and used within 1 week to ensure freshness.
Separation is natural, so be sure to shake before serving.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Citrus Vinaigrette
Amount Per Serving (1 tablespoon)
Calories 100 Calories from Fat 91
% Daily Value*
Fat 10.1g16%
Saturated Fat 1.4g9%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g
Monounsaturated Fat 3.8g
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 70.8mg3%
Potassium 30.6mg1%
Carbohydrates 2.3g1%
Fiber 0.2g1%
Sugar 1.4g2%
Protein 0.2g0%
Vitamin A 0IU0%
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 0mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Net carbs 2.1g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Salads & Dressings
Cuisine: American
Diet: Diabetic, Vegan
Keyword: homemade citrus vinaigrette, salad dressing
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