This white balsamic orange vinaigrette recipe uses both the juice and zest from seasonal oranges to create a bright and tangy dressing that works on any salad. A white balsamic vinegar keeps the color vivid, and a drizzle of honey helps to balance the acidity.
I’ve been making homemade salad dressing for over 20 years now, and they’re without a doubt one of my favorite things to make on a weekly basis. Not to mention, they’re a great way to start cooking recipes from scratch because they’re easy to make and customize. I call them my “gateway recipes.” 😜 If you’re looking for more rotation in your salad dressing game, be sure to check out my lemon pepper vinaigrette and my fresh parsley vinaigrette, two of my more popular dressings!
💕 why this orange balsamic vinaigrette works….
🍊 bursting with flavor. This dressing uses fresh seasonal oranges to bring a burst of flavor, not store-bought juice or juice from concentrate.
🥗 salad star. Unlike other dressings that can sometimes overpower a salad, this light dressing allows doesn’t take away from other ingredients in the salad.
😌 easy. In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have yourself a homemade salad dressing fit for your favorite salad!
🛒 ingredients
- oranges – too keep this dressing seasonal, I opted for cara cara oranges for this dressing, which are pinkish in color and slightly sweeter in taste. We will be using fresh orange juice AND freshly grated orange zest for this recipe, so if you use a smaller orange, you’ll need more for juicing and zesting. And since we are using the zest, opt for organic if you can!
- honey – I love using orange blossom honey in my citrus dressings to add a delicate floral flavor. You can also use any mild honey, like clover honey. Avoid stronger tasting honeys like buckwheat which can overpower the flavor of the dressing.
- white balsamic vinegar – White balsamic vinegar keeps this dressing light in color so the orange juice and zest can be the star. It’s also sweeter in taste than regular white vinegar, so be sure to get white balsamic vinegar, not just regular white vinegar. You can usually find it at your local grocery store next to the regular dark balsamic vinegar.
- garlic – fresh garlic is a pantry staple in our house, but if you have garlic powder, you can use 1/8 tsp for each clove of garlic.
- olive oil – extra virgin olive oil is a great match for the zesty flavor of orange juice and zest! The robust flavor holds up nicely to the intense orange flavor.
- salt & pepper – the good ole standbys of the seasoning world, salt and pepper have a home in nearly every recipe!
♻️ substitutions & variations
This honey orange vinaigrette can even be changed around! Here are some ideas for making this dressing your own:
- oil – Use an even more neutral oil, like avocado oil or grape seed oil, to really highlight the zesty flavor of the orange juice.
- oranges – Experiment using different types of citrus. I used cara cara oranges, but blood oranges would give you a more dramatic color and flavor. Use what’s in season, or what is easiest for you to find!
- vinegar – swap out the type of vinegar you’re using. White wine viegar or champagne vinegar are both great swaps. If you only have white vinegar, start by using 1/2 the amount called for and taste as you go. Regular white vinegar is stronger in flavor than other light vinegars.
As you can see, the possibilities with vinaigrettes really are endless. Plus, once you start making your own salad dressings, store bought just won’t ever taste the same!
🧰 equipment
While you can make this honey orange vinaigrette using just a mixing bowl and a whisk, check out these affiliate-linked tools below that will help make your life easier. 😘
- immersion blender – I always recommend an immersion blender. Mine is from Cuisinart.
- microplane – microplanes are one of my favorite tools in the kitchen. I have several sizes, but for this recipe, you’ll need one that is capable of zesting. Alternatively, you can use the thinnest side of a box grater– but be careful only to get the zest, not the white pith of the lemon.
- mixing jar – I love blending right in storage jars, for easier cleanup. A large measuring cup or bowl will also do the trick!
- squeeze bottles – OXO squeeze bottles are my favorite way to store salad dressings.
🫙 storage
Your honey orange vinaigrette salad dressing will stay fresh for up to 10 days in the fridge.
🔆 Top tip
You can make this citrusy dressing in a regular blender or a food processor. I wouldn’t recommend using a “bullet style” blender because you need to be able to stream the olive oil in while you’re mixing the base of the vinaigrette.
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💭 q+a
Use whatever oranges are easiest for you to find. The great thing about this salad dressing is that you can make it your own, based on what you like. Try it with navel oranges, blood oranges, or satsuma mandarines!
Slowly streaming in the olive oil helps the vinaigrette to emulsify. That means that the fats from the olive oil can bind with the other ingredients, which makes your salad dressings so velvety and smooth.
Absolutely! Use any neutral oil you like in this dressing. Avocado, canola, or
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Honey Orange Vinaigrette
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Equipment
- 1 immersion blender can also use a food processor, blender, or whisk
- 1 jar
- 1 microplane
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp orange zest about the zest from one medium orange
- ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice from two medium oranges
- 2 tbsp honey
- 4 tbsp white balsamic vinegar substitute white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Grate 1 garlic clove into a jar or mixing bowl using a Microplane
- Zest 1 medium orange into the same jar or mixing bowl, you should have about 1 tablespoon of zest
- Add 1/2 cup of orange juice, 2 tbsp of honey, 4 tbsp of white wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Blend well.
- While blending, slowly stream in 1/2 cup of olive oil, to emulsify the mixture.
- Store in the fridge in the same jar you mixed in, or in a squeeze bottle, for up to 7 days.
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
