Apple Cider Vinaigrette

When spring rolls around and local greens start to show up at the market, I make sure to keep a homemade dressing or two in the fridge. That way, I can dive into a delicious salad bowl at a moment’s notice. Getting my veggies in and using homemade dressing? A win-win! This simple apple cider vinaigrette is a great everyday condiment and part of my regular repertoire.

Apple cider vinegar is touted for its health benefits, and this dressing is a great way to get those nutrients in. In our cider vinaigrette recipe, it’s partnered with olive oil, an important part of the Mediterranean diet and one of the most healthy oils money can buy. A touch of honey and some Dijon mustard round out the flavors.

Ingredients for Apple Cider Vinaigrette

• Olive oil: Flex your best EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) here. Since the recipe contains few ingredients, every one of them counts. While you’re at it, make sure you know how to store olive oil to maintain its fresh taste.
• Cider vinegar: While shopping, see if you can find an unfiltered apple cider vinegar, as it will be more nutritious and flavorful than a perfectly clear, strained vinegar.
• Honey: Honey adds a soft, sweet touch to this vinaigrette. You can use any type of honey you enjoy, but raw honey will have added health benefits.
• Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard brings great flavor to this apple cider vinaigrette recipe, and also helps to emulsify the dressing by marrying the fatty oil to the watery vinegar. This gives the product an almost creamy texture, even though it doesn’t contain dairy.
• Garlic: Many dressings benefit from a slightly pungent bite, and in this case, garlic provides that bite. A medium clove is standard, but if you’re a garlic lover, try a large clove instead. If you’d prefer a more mellow flavor, you could use roasted garlic instead of fresh garlic.
• Salt and pepper: These classic seasonings are a must for many salad dressings. Use any kind of salt in your kitchen and freshly ground pepper if you’ve got a pepper mill.

Directions

Step 1: Make the dressing

Combine the olive oil, cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well.

Step 2: Store in the fridge

Store in the refrigerator. Just before serving, shake the dressing again to combine separated ingredients.

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Recipe Variations

• Ramp up the apple flavor: One of my favorite cooking tricks is simmering a gallon of apple cider until only a quart is left. The resulting cider syrup is a great way to add apple flavor to dressings, stews and desserts. A couple teaspoons of reduced apple cider will make this dressing sing! Store extra syrup in a jar in the fridge.
• Add mulling spices: Whether or not you mix cider syrup into the dressing, consider adding a small amount of warm spice—think touches of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and/or allspice. This is particularly good if you make a salad that includes winter squash, kale, apples or toasted nuts.
• Throw in some herbs: To take this recipe in a more refreshing direction, consider minced fresh herbs such as thyme or oregano. You could also add a finely chopped shallot for a bit of crunch.
• Include fruit: I like to soak dried fruit in a little water, apple juice or vinegar, add it to my other ingredients, and puree the dressing in a blender rather than shaking it in a jar. In this case, cranberries would be an excellent choice, as would dried apples or cherries.

How to Store Apple Cider Vinaigrette

You can store this dressing right in the jar you used to make it! Use it within a week. We don’t recommend longer than that because the fresh garlic in it could cause it to spoil.

Apple Cider Vinaigrette Tips

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How do you use apple cider vinaigrette?

This dressing is great on green salads and slaws, and although it’s lovely year-round, it’s especially wonderful on dishes with autumnal flavors. Try tossing cider vinaigrette with a wheat berry or farro salad or drizzling it over roasted chicken or pork chops. Beets, a winter squash medley and sweet potatoes are other excellent pairings.

Besides drizzling the vinaigrette over cooked meat, you can also use it for a quick marinade for chicken and pork chops. Use any leftover dressing on the salad you pair with the protein.

What are some other uses for cider vinegar?

In addition to making great salad dressing, there are tons of ways to use apple cider vinegar! You can employ it to trap fruit flies, clean windows and deodorize your sink. Who knew?