Have you ever thought to combine balsamic and lemon before? It works really well! If you think all vinaigrettes taste the same, this lemon balsamic dressing will prove you wrong. It's bright, tangy, slightly sweet, and instantly transforms even the most boring bowl of greens into something you actually want to eat.
You want a balsamic vinegar dressing recipe that actually tastes balanced. Not too sour, not too oily, and definitely not bland. This version blends fresh lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, some mustard and honey, and extra virgin olive oil to create a lemon balsamic vinaigrette that works on salads, grain bowls, roasted veggies, grilled chicken… basically anything that needs a hit of acidity and flavor without adding junk.
👉 Replace the lemon with any citrus you like and you have a tasty citrus balsamic vinaigrette.
For more tasty dressings, make sure to try this Ladolemono, a classic Greek lemon olive oil dressing and this Greek Yogurt Dip for Veggies, Chips and more!
📋 Ingredient notes
To make this lemon balsamic vinegar dressing recipe you'll need the following ingredients:
Fresh Lemons: I say fresh lemons and not freshly squeezed lemon juice because you may also want to add some lemon zest. If that's the case, first take the zest and then cut and juice the lemon, it's easier.
Balsamic vinegar: Real balsamic vinegar can be expensive. Try to find a decent one with no sugar added. Most good brands have grape juice.
This is an article about real vs imitation balsamic vinegar ↗️
Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is suggested for this balsamic salad dressing recipe.
Garlic powder: This is optional. You can also use fresh garlic but I find it to be too strong, so I suggest garlic powder.
For the full list of ingredients with quantities, please see the recipe card ⬇️ at the end of this post.
👨🍳 Expert Tips
Follow these expert tips to make the best, healthy balsamic vinaigrette recipe,
✅ Use high quality ingredients and fresh lemons, not store bought lemon juice 🙂
✅ Taste and adjust the flavor to your liking. Remember that the dressing should be a bit more intense than you prefer. When it gets mixed with the food its taste will calm down.
🎥 Video
Watch a short video for how to make a tasty lemon balsamic dressing.
🎵 Music on Video: Happy kids Musician: Amusicmedia
📖 Recipe
Lemon Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried garlic powder (optional)
Instructions
- If you want to add some lemon zest for extra lemon flavor, first zest the lemon. Then cut it in half and take the juice.
- Transfer all the ingredients for the dressing to a jar or shaker. Close with the lid and shake vigorously for 1 minute. Taste and adjust to your liking. Serve.
Notes
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Nutrition
How to choose Balsamic vinegar:
Here's a simple guide with what actually matters when choosing a good balsamic vinegar:
👉 Ignore the marketing. Look at the ingredient list. A good one should start with grape must (not just wine vinegar).
👉 The fewer ingredients the better. Avoid added caramel color, thickeners, "E numbers," or added sugar. Those are shortcuts for cheap vinegar.
👉 Look for PDO/PGI seals. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale di Modena DOP or Aceto Balsamico di Modena IGP (DOP is premium quality, IGP is high-quality daily use).
👉 Check the must percentage. Ideally more than 50% grape must. If it's barely any must, it won't taste rich.
👉 Aging count means something. If a date or "aged X years" is shown that's great, but remember that many IGPs don't list it.
👉 Taste test: Should be balanced, not harsh, not sugary, not artificially sweet.
If you tried this Lemon Balsamic dressing recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
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