Homemade Strawberry Lime Vinaigrette {5 Ingredients}
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Our Strawberry Lime Vinaigrette is made with just 5 ingredients. A simple and refreshing salad dressing that pairs well with most Spring and Summer green salads.
Don’t be put off if you’ve never made homemade dressing before. They are actually really easy to make.
Homemade dressings are a great way to use up extra ingredients (in this case fresh strawberries) you have on hand. Or if you want to want to ditch the processed ingredients and preservatives you find in commercial dressings. Or maybe you just don’t feel like making another trip to the store.
When I created my own Creamy House Dressing I decided I would never buy that kind from the store again. And our copycat McDonald’s Big Mac sauce is amazing on salads. Homemade is just so easy and it tastes way better!
The same goes for when I made my Copycat Chipotle Chicken Bowl. I had to experiment and came up with a from-scratch Southwest Dressing that uses just 5 ingredients. And it tastes amazing!
Vinaigrette FAQs
Before we dive into making homemade strawberry vinaigrette, let’s answer a couple of questions many people have.
What’s the Best Oil to Use When Making Homemade Vinaigrette
While there aren’t any hard and fast rules against using certain oils in vinaigrettes, some suit salads better than others. But it also depends on the flavor you like best.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a safe bet because it’s not overpowering and can help to bring out the flavors of the other ingredients. And the nutrition profile is better than that of vegetable or canola.
I’ve also used sunflower oil with good results. Other oils such as walnut or coconut oil have a distinctive taste and may not pair well with some ingredients.
For this version, we are using olive oil, but feel free to experiment with your favorite oil. If you do, be sure to come back and let us know how it turned out!
Is Red Wine Vinegar And Vinaigrette The Same Thing?
No. Red wine vinegar has actually been fermented from wine to vinegar.
Vinaigrettes are a combination of oil, seasonings or herbs, a citrus or tart component, vinegar, and possibly other ingredients depending on what type you are making.
Ingredients Needed for Strawberry Lime Vinaigrette
- fresh strawberries – for the best flavor and vibrant color
- apple cider vinegar
- honey – can swap for maple syrup if you need a vegan version or are out of honey
- lime juice – try to use fresh if possible, it does make a difference
- lime zest – a microplane works best for this task
- olive oil
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing
Add the strawberries, vinegar, honey, lime juice, and zest into the blender jar. Blend until combined, scraping down the sides as needed.
Drizzle in the olive oil a little at a time while blending. Continue until the vinaigrette is fully mixed and ready to serve.
Ways to Serve
Over a Green Salad: spinach and arugula pair well with the strawberry flavor profile and it’s a popular combination. It also tastes great with romaine or butter lettuces.
Fruit Salad: combine your favorite fruits, drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss to combine.
Marinade: the strawberry lime flavors complement chicken and pork perfectly. To use as a marinade, add the vinaigrette and meat to a glass dish or plastic bag and let it marinate in the refrigerator for two hours before cooking.
How to Store
Keep the strawberry lime dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Mason jars are another good storage idea for homemade dressings.
Can I Use Frozen Strawberries?
You can but the flavor won’t be as fresh, but you already knew that, right? If you decide to use frozen berries, allow them to thaw completely before using.
Depending on where you’re located, strawberries are in season from May to July, with June being the prime season. Purchasing in season gives you the best flavor and lowest prices.
Pro Tip!
Stock up on fresh strawberries when they’re in season and freeze for use throughout the year. To flash freeze: layer the berries on a sheet tray and freeze until hardened (about 30-60 minutes). Transfer strawberries to a freezer safe container or bag and store in the freezer.
What To Do if the Vinaigrette Separates
Don’t be alarmed – this happens after it sits for a while. Just give it a good shake to mix it back up before dressing your salad.
More Salads and Dressings You May Enjoy:
- Kale and Brussel Sprout Salad with Cranberries
- Apple Celery Walnut Salad
- Quinoa Chickpea Salad
- Broccoli Salad with Bacon & Cranberries
- Chicken Cobb Salad {with Homemade Vinaigrette}
Homemade Strawberry Lime Vinaigrette
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup fresh strawberries, cleaned & chopped
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons lime juice
- 1 teaspoon lime zest, about 1 large lime
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except olive oil in a blender jar and blend until combined. Scrape the sides of the jar and blend for a few more seconds to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.
- Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the strawberry mixture, blending until fully mixed.
Notes
- Makes about 1 cup of dressing.
- If using frozen strawberries, thaw before using.
- If the dressing separates after storing, give it a couple good shakes to mix it up.
- Store dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. We like to use Mason jars to store salad dressings.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
