Blackberry Vinaigrette
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Plump summer blackberries meld with rich balsamic vinegar and a touch of maple syrup in this blackberry vinaigrette. It’s perfect for tender summer greens!
You know summer is in full swing when fresh blackberries start cropping up at the farmers market, and new, seasonal displays line the front entrance at the grocery store. Ripe berries add a little extra sweetness to the bounty of summer, and I’m here for it!
In Washington, I can usually get my hands on plenty of fresh blackberries and love to make all sorts of delicious blackberry products like seedless blackberry jam, blackberry preserves, blackberry pie, and more.
However, one of the easiest ways to use blackberries is by making blackberry vinaigrette dressing. When I don’t have time to can or bake, this perfect recipe adds some of the blackberries I need to use to a basic balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Like most homemade salad dressings, this balsamic blackberry vinaigrette is so easy to make. Juicy blackberries mix with tangy balsamic and nutty olive oil to bring out the best within all these simple ingredients. Whip up a batch in no time and try it on your favorite salad!
What is Blackberry Vinaigrette?
Blackberry vinaigrette is a homemade salad dressing that combines seasonal blackberries with a classic balsamic vinaigrette we all know and love. Use it to dress your favorite greens through the summer.
During the summer months, we are swimming in an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. Making a blackberry salad dressing is a great option because it uses that summer abundance to make our salads even more tasty. Yummy salads mean less goes to waste, and we get our daily values of wonderful nutrition that fresh greens offer!
What you’ll love about Blackberry Vinaigrette:
Equipment
To make this simple vinaigrette, you’ll need very few tools.
- Wide-mouth mason jar (quart or pint)
- Immersion blender, food processor, or blender
Ingredients
- Fresh blackberries: Blackberries are juicy, lightly sweet, slightly tart, and perfect for adding to bold balsamic and nutty olive oil.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil brings a delicious, nutty flavor to its classic pairing with balsamic vinegar.
- Balsamic vinegar: There can be many kinds of balsamic vinegar to choose from on the shelf. The best balsamic vinegars are produced the authentic way and aged 12 years in Modena, Italy. For simple dressings like ours, a standard, middle-shelf organic balsamic vinegar will do wonderfully.
- Maple syrup: I always look for ways to incorporate natural sweetness into my recipes. Maple syrup, or honey, will help balance the flavors in this dressing. If you want a dressing with no added sugar, leave this out to fit your preference.
- Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard is a kitchen staple I recommend everyone keep on hand in their fridge. This ingredient acts as an emulsifying agent and helps the oil and vinegar blend together into the creamy mixture we want!
- Kosher salt: Salt will enhance the flavors in this dressing. Feel free to add a little bit of black pepper too.
How to Make Blackberry Vinaigrette
- Add all of the ingredients to your mason jar.
- Carefully insert the immersion blender and begin pulsing briefly to start breaking down the blackberries
- Once the fruit has broken down, blend fully so the remaining ingredients mix, and everything turns smooth and creamy.
- Enjoy.
Storing
This blackberry vinaigrette recipe stores wonderfully sealed in the fridge for about 4-5 days. Since the fruit is fresh, it will start to break down after this point.
How to Use Blackberry Vinaigrette Dressing
Use blackberry balsamic vinaigrette to coat your green salads with loads of summer flavor and turn every bite into a treat. Along with your tender summer greens, add in dried fruit, tangy goat cheese or feta cheese, your favorite seeds or nuts, and a little spicy red onion. So refreshing!
Tips & Variations
- Feel free to add a handful of your favorite fresh herbs, like mint or basil, for extra flavor.
- If using frozen blackberries, be sure to let them thaw and drain off the excess liquid. I throw mine in a small bowl and set them in the fridge to thaw overnight.
- You can easily substitute any other vinegar or acid. It’s great with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice, and more!
- For a marionberry vinaigrette, replace the blackberries with marionberries!
- If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, agave syrup is another natural sweetener that works well in dressings like this.
- No immersion blender? Use your food processor or blender to mix accordingly and transfer to an airtight container for storage.
- Don’t have any large pint or quart mason jars? Place all your ingredients in the blender.
FAQs
You sure can! Choosing frozen blackberries is a great way to enjoy the taste of blackberry vinaigrette after the fresh blackberry crop is through. Treat them just the same way you would fresh ones; just be sure to let them thaw and drain any excess liquid.
Balsamic vinegar is a great choice because it adds a rich and bold flavor. However, if you prefer to use apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice, or any other acidic choice, the vinaigrette will still turn out great!
Balsamic is a classic choice that pairs especially well with olive oil, but just because it’s a classic combination doesn’t mean it’s a rule. Follow your taste and creativity in the kitchen!
No. An immersion blender is a useful tool in the kitchen, but you can use a food processor or countertop blender to make blackberry vinaigrette if that’s what you have on hand.
Just like you would with a hand blender in a mason jar, start by pulsing your food processor or blender a few times to break down the fruit. Once the fruit is broken down, turn your machine to a medium-high mix setting and watch all the ingredients come together.
summer’s abundance
More Blackberry Recipes
Too many blackberries? Try these fun recipes to preserve your harvest! (More coming soon)
Related Recipes
Check out more homemade salad dressings here!
- Balsamic Cherry Vinaigrette
- Gorgonzola Vinaigrette
- Parmesan Vinaigrette
- Raspberry Walnut Salad Dressing
Blackberry Vinaigrette
Equipment
- 1 immersion blender or blender/food processor
- 1 wide mouth mason jar quart-sized
Ingredients
- 1 cup blackberries, washed and dried
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbs maple syrup
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in your mason jar.1 cup blackberries, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tbs maple syrup, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- Insert the immersion blender and briefly pulse to start breaking down the blakberries.
- Blend all of the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
Notes
- Feel free to add a handful of your favorite fresh herbs, like mint or basil, for extra flavor.
- If using frozen blackberries, be sure to let them thaw and drain off the excess liquid. I throw mine in a small bowl and set them in the fridge to thaw overnight.
- You can easily substitute any other vinegar or acid. It’s great with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, lime juice, and more!
- For a marionberry vinaigrette, replace the blackberries with marionberries!
- If you don’t have maple syrup on hand, agave syrup is another natural sweetener that works well in dressings like this.
- No immersion blender? Use your food processor or blender to mix accordingly and transfer to an airtight container for storage.
- Don’t have any large pint or quart mason jars? Place all your ingredients in the blender.
Good morning Rachel. I found your blog via Blogger Education Network – Learn How to Blog as you left a link there. As a fellow foodie, I had to visit and I love your blog.
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