This earthy and tangy balsamic dressing has only a handful of ingredients and is the perfect paring with all your favorite salads. I prefer to use aged balsamic vinegars in my vinaigrettes and dressings since they are often thicker and more condensed than regular balsamic vinegar, giving the dressings a more creamy and luscious taste.

Throughout the year I love to make various vinaigrettes depending on the season and what is the freshest, however, this dressing is always on the menu no matter what.  It is gorgeous tossed with peppery arugula and goat cheese for a simple winter salad or some tender baby spinach, bright strawberries and feta in the summer.  I even love to drizzle this over some earthy roasted Brussles sprouts! Try this on everything and you’ll, agree, it’s the best and easiest vinaigrette!

Why Balsamic Vinegar is So Good For You!

Balsamic vinegar along with other distilled vinegars is a great source of minerals as well as a compound called acetic acid.  Let’s dive a little further!

Balsamic vinegar has several minerals:

• Calcium: The most abundant mineral in the body and is essential in maintaining health teeth and bones as well as heart, muscle and nerve function.
• Magnesium: The fourth most abundant mineral in the body, it support healthy nerve functions, healthy blood pressure, and detoxification.
• Phosphorous: Supports healthy teeth and bones, muscle recovery after working out, and detoxification.
• Potassium:  An essential electrolyte necessary in nervous system function, metabolism,  hydration, and in regulating your heartbeat. 

Benefits of Acetic Acid

• Supports healthy blood sugars.  Studies have shown that when acetic acid is consumed with a high carbohydrate meal, it slow the absorption of the sugars and may impact carbohydrate metabolism [2].
• Supports healthy GI tract.  The probiotics found in acetic acid promote gut health and digestion [3].
• Supporting digestion.  Often, symptoms of too little stomach acid are mistaken for too much as the symptoms can often be the same.  Acetic acid improves chemical digestion and may help to alleviate symptoms such as heartburn and reflux [4].

So grab some aged balsamic vinegar and let’s get cooking!

Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients

1/2 cup Aged Balsamic Vinegar

1/2 cup Cold-Pressed EVOO

1 Tbsp No Sugar added Dijon Mustard

1 Tbsp Shallot, finely minced

1/8 tsp Ground Black Pepper

1/8 tsp Fine Sea Salt

How to Make Balsamic Vinaigrette

1. Finely mince the shallot and set aside.

2. In a small bowl, add the balsamic vinegar, EVOO, shallot, dijon mustard, salt and pepper and whisk to evenly combine.

3.  Transfer to a small jar with a lid.

Enjoy!

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FAQs

Q: Can I use regular balsamic vinegar instead of aged balsamic vinegar?

A: Yes, but aged balsamic vinegar has a much richer consistency, almost syrup-like and will yield a more robust, creamier and less runny dressing.

Q: Can I use garlic instead of shallots?

A: Yes, but garlic is more pungent and will change the flavor of the vinaigrette.  I prefer to use shallots in my dressings and vinaigrettes because of its more subtle and delicate flavor.

Q: Can I use this as a marinade?

A: Yes of course, however, you may want to use regular balsamic vinegar in place of the aged since you will be tossing most of it away and a good aged balsamic can be pricey.

If you like this recipe, check these out!

Arugula Salad with Wild Rice: I dream about this salad with peppery arugula, roasted earthy Brussels sprouts, tangy goat cheese, and hearty wild rice.

Lemon Poppyseed Vinaigrette: I love this simple and beautiful sweet-tart salad dressing that seems to go with every single salad!

Blue Cheese Dressing: Earthy, savory, and creamy blue cheese dressing made with all whole food ingredients to make your salads shine!

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