This Easy Strawberry Vinaigrette proves that less is more. It calls for only 5 ingredients and takes only about 5 minutes to make.
Over the years, I’ve found that many of life’s greatest joys are really the simplest things. I know that sounds a little cliché, but it’s the truth. One of my favorite ways to hit the reset button is sneaking away with my little family for a quick trip. Being able to unplug and disconnect for a bit is huge for me, especially since running Southern Bite pretty much has me online 24/7. And while I truly love what I do, stepping away always recharges me in a way nothing else can. It reminds me to appreciate the simple things all around me.
One of my all-time favorite memories is from when Jack was little and we took him to the beach. Sitting there, just watching and listening to him giggle as the waves rolled up and filled the little moat he built around his sandcastle… it’s one of those moments I’ll never forget. I wasn’t peeking over the top of a cell phone or halfway listening — I was right there, hands-free, soaking it all in. And goodness, what a difference that makes.
It’s funny, because life (and food) can be a lot the same way. We tend to overcomplicate things when sometimes simple is just better. Honestly, this dressing recipe is a perfect example of that. It’s about as easy and fuss-free as it gets, with just five ingredients (and two of those are salt and pepper!). Sometimes the simplest recipes really are the best ones.
How to Serve this Vinaigrette:
I love sweet and tangy salad dressings like this all year round, but especially over a fresh summer salad with fresh strawberries and some crumbled feta cheese or sharp blue cheese. I also like to throw in some pecans and dried cranberries. However, you could serve this vinaigrette with pretty much any salad!
You could also use it as a sweet glaze or even toss it with fruit salad for a sweet-savory twist. You could even drink it with a straw… I won’t tell. It’s that good!
What if I don’t have a blender?
If you’re not in the mood to haul out the blender—or you just don’t have one handy—you can still whip up this strawberry vinaigrette. Simply grab a medium to large mixing bowl, a good whisk, and put in a little elbow grease. It may take a minute, but everything will come together just fine.
If you’re finding the jam to be a bit stubborn to mix in with the other ingredients, pop the dressing mixture in the microwave for about 10–15 seconds. That quick zap will help soften the jam and loosen things up. Just be sure to let it cool down before serving or tossing it with your greens.
Could I try other flavor jams?
One of the best things about this vinaigrette recipe is how easy it is to customize. If you’re out of strawberry jam or just want to try something new, there are plenty of other fruit-flavored jams that would work perfectly. Each one brings a little something different to the mix:
- Raspberry Jam: A natural swap with a bright, tangy flavor that still keeps that berry taste.
- Peach Jam: Much like the strawberry jam, this sweet substitute would be perfect for light, summery salads or as a drizzle over grilled chicken.
- Blueberry Jam: Although blueberries have a deeper flavor than strawberries, I think it would make for a great vinaigrette over a mixed-greens salad with toasted nuts and creamy cheeses, like feta or brie.
- Cherry Jam: Bold and sweet-tart, I think this would be delicious over spinach with a few toasted almonds.
Just a heads-up though… if you go with a jam that’s extra sweet or extra tangy, you might want to adjust the apple cider vinegar a bit to keep everything balanced. Give it a taste as you go, and tweak to your liking! Y’all enjoy!
Recipe Card
Easy Strawberry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 3 tablespoons strawberry jam
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Combine the ingredients in a blender and pulse until well combined. Store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
nikki
Loved it on my goat cheese salad! So simple, restaurant quality! Used my homemade jam! Thanks!!
Lisa H
Simple and delicious! Perfect for a mixed greens salad with fresh strawberries. I used a simply fruit spread with no added sugar and the sweetness was just right.
I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! That combination with mixed greens and strawberries sounds delicious. Using a fruit spread with no added sugar is a great idea for keeping it light and tasty. Thanks for sharing your twist!
william
Simple, well rounded, perfect for spinach salad
Thanks, William!
Denise
Did I miss some instructions? Should I have melted the jam? I cannot get the jam to blend in …. It is sinking to the bottom. I blended it a good while. Is is ok to take the whole thing that I tried to blend and heat it up to see if the jam will blend in?
You can certainly melt the jam, but using a blender usually keeps you from having to do that step. I’ve not ever had trouble with the jam steeling like that. Theoretically, you can zap the dressing in the microwave to warm it. Just allow it to cool before using it.
Laurie
This is so marvelous !! I don’t even know how many times I have made it now !! Everytime the container in the fridge gets low I make another batch !! Thanks for this excellant dressing !!
Awesome! Love hearing this!!
Libby
Omg this is the best dressing that I have ever eaten!! I could eat this is cardboard 😂😂
Ha! So glad you love it!
Jonathan Murray
So easy and so good! Only using this recipe from now on to make our own dressing!
Thanks, Jonathan! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Billie
This sounds so good and I assume an orange jam or raspberry, etc, would be great for variation! Can’t wait to try it!
I hope you love it!
Debbie Burford
Stacey I have tried about everything in the last couple of months that you have posted and I have cooked it at home and or shared with friends and my husbands office staff, it all has been wonderful. Thank you for your great recipes . I look forward to what’s going to be next. Debbie
Thank you so much, Debbie! That put a huge smile on my face!
Debi
What can I use if I don’t have a blender? My blender broke and I haven’t replaced it yet. Thanks for sharing.
A larger bowl, a whisk, and some elbow grease will work just fine. 🙂
Celia
Hey Stacey, I love vinaigrette dressing and can’t wait to try this recipe. As lots of others nowadays, I’m watching carbs and calories. Can you tell us how many of each and serving size? If not that’s ok, I’ll still make it and give it a guess for the food journal I keep.
Hi Celia! I don’t share that info because of the various product brands that could be used in the recipe would change the calorie counts, etc. I recommend finding the products you’d use and heading to myfitnesspal.com to calculate them for yourself to make sure they’re accurate.
Jane M.
Stacey, while your wonderful post is regarding a strawberry vinaigrette, I had to let you know I made your recipe for Loaded Baked Potato Salad last week and it was amazing! Baking the potato chunks prevented them from crumbling (unlike boiled potatoes) when mixing in the mayo, sour cream, etc. As soon as I pick up another bag of russets (don’t like the taste of red potatoes), I will make another batch. Thank you!
That’s fantastic, Jane! I’m so glad you enjoyed the potato salad! I’ve started doing my potatoes like that more often and think it really adds a new depth of flavor.
Nana
It’s called -stop and smell the roses, only in this case it’s strawberries.
Yes! Exactly. 🙂