Basil Vinaigrette
Updated July 05, 2019
Basil Vinaigrette-this easy basil vinaigrette is great as a salad dressing or sauce for chicken, fish, vegetables, or pasta. It is good on just about everything!
Happy 4th of July! Today, I am sharing one of my favorite summer recipes, Basil Vinaigrette. It takes about five minutes to make and goes great on just about everything. I use it mostly as a salad dressing, but it is also great on vegetables, chicken, fish, and pasta.
During the summer, I keep this Basil Vinaigrette in the fridge at all times because it seriously makes everything better! And it is a great way to use up the summer basil!
To make the vinaigrette, blend basil, garlic, shallot, fresh lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper together. The end result is a bright green vinaigrette that is full of flavor.
It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days and don’t worry if you run out because you can always make more. And I highly recommend you make a caprese salad and drizzle this vinaigrette over the top. It is life changing!
Make this quick and easy Basil Vinaigrette, it is sure to become a staple in your house! I can’t live without it!
Basil Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 2 cups packed basil leaves
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place the basil, garlic, shallot, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, olive oil, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Serve!
- Note-vinaigrette will keep in a jar or container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?
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This may be a weird question but how would this be mixed with canned tuna? I’m trying to find a non-mayo alternative.
Thanks!
Seems like the author hasn’t replied to any comments. I would say try a little of the sauce with a little tuna. If you like the taste, go ahead.
I have used salt, pepper and fresh squeezed lemon juice. This takes away the fishy taste and is refreshing on crackers too.
Barbecue sauce is good with tuna
Definitely a staple in my house! I put this on everything!
I can’t wait to try this vinaigrette on my next salad! So pretty too!
gah!!! I would want to put this on everything!!
I love the vibrant color! It sounds so good!
Any recipes for peach or balsamic vinegar salad dressings ?
What affordable extra virgin olive oil do you use? I keep striking out at the grocery store and can’t find anything light enough for dressings. Thank you!
I only use CALIFORNIA OLIVE RANCH olive oil.
This looks tasty, wold you think this would freeze well?
I would like to know the answer also
So nice and fresh and summery!
Like pesto in dressing form…yum! And I love the beautiful color and fresh summery vibe. Thanks!
– MAK
I love making home made salad dressings and I’m really going to love this one, thank you xoxo
I made a low-FODMAP version of this yesterday (used a combo of garlic oil and EVOO instead of the garlic clove and green scallions instead of shallots) and it was delicious! I love pesto so I knew this would be up my alley. I mixed into a summery salad with potatoes, spring mix, bacon, corn, feta and roasted green peppers, zucchini and some mystery summer squash I picked up at the farmers market.
I’m hosting a farm fresh-themed outdoor potluck this week (each dish must include either a homegrown fruit/veggie or something from the farmers market) and I definitely want to come up with a dish with this yummy vinaigrette!
looks powerfull to detoxify the body and lose a few pounds
This is the most wonderful healthy alternative for a sauce. I make this weekly and put it over everything. I even find myself licking the spoon. Thank you, this and a few of the recipes are staples in my diet!
I’ll do it to try it. I need to lose a few pounds. It seems to be quite tasty to drink.
I just made this and it is NOT FAIR how good this is. I don’t think I can survive without this in my fridge at all times. I licked the food processor bowl and I’m not even ashamed to admit that.
I hear ya, Katy! I’m doing the same thing right now. YUMMO!
Can’t wait t try this on everything…great find
This tastes delicious! I won’t be able to use it all up in time and I want to know if it can be frozen? Has anyone tried that?
Can you freeze this dressing? I have a ton of basil growing and would like to have some for the winter. Thanks!
Yes, it might discolor a little after being frozen, but still tasty.
Can you freeze in ice cube trays ?
I made it and it was delicious. Poured it over grilled shrimp. Will continue to make it.
It is a staple in our house! Glad you like it too!
How any advice on how to measure a cup of fresh basil thank you so much I want to try for a party tomorrow
Pack the leaves in a measuring cup.
Can you freeze this
Just made this dressing! It’s so delicious! Thank you!
Have to say…this is the first year we have grown basil and we made this 4 weeks ago…and we have made it every week since! It is SO good! Thank you! We now have a main dish and this dressing on a salad for dinner every night. Thank you!
Oh, this is really delicious ! You’re right – it tastes great on everything!
Was so tired of pesto and we have sooooo much basil!
Thank you
Just made this today. The basil vinegar vinegarette was absolutely delicious!!!
Glad you liked it!
Frozen basil leaves seem to hold color pretty well. Could this be made with frozen basil leaves?
Made this a couple of night ago and served it over a simple side salad of mixed greens, sliced cucumbers and sweet onions, and halved grape tomatoes and it was TERRIFFIC! This is such a flavorful dressing!
This is my first time making any recipes from this site and it was so good! I am so happy I found this basil vinaigrette recipe and I will definitely be adding it to many dishes in the future.
Just had to tell you. Made this dressing last week. Followed recipe exactly. It was terrific. Besides salad, used it on chicken and fish and a little on eggs. Thanks.
Steve
Love the recipe- made it all last summer and this year too! So flavourful. I see many have asked about if it can be frozen with no ill effects- would love it if you could answer that question!
I would like to make this dressing tonight, but I was wondering what type of vinegar should be used. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I would like to make this dressing tonight, but I was wondering what type of vinegar should be used. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
The suggested vinegars are either white balsamic or red wine. Personally, I like the white balsamic better than red wine in this dressing because I like the sweet undertones.
Amazing! We put on everything. Everyone asks for recipe!
As to the question of being able to freeze this vinaigrette, if you blanched the basil leaves before processing the mixture, wouldn’t it stand up to freezing it? You mentioned that it might discolor if frozen so I wondered if blanching the leaves ahead of time might solve that issue. Since I am the only one in the household, I would need to find a way to freeze it successfully. If you have never used a basil vinaigrette or aioli, it is absolutely wonderful on a chicken or turkey sandwich!
My pesto frozen does not discolor. So, I would think this may not either. It’s basil, to keep it growing give it a try!!!
Just finished making this vinaigrette and it is absolutely delicious! I will be using it tonight on a salad with chicken, tomatoes, and other veggies for dinner. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe!
My favorite, especially in the summertime.
Fabulous! I made this exactly as the recipe stated. This is a summer keeper!
So good in the summertime.
Made it with fresh basil from my garden! Now I am obsessed!! Totally love it!
The perfect way to use up the garden basil.
I could eat this stuff on everything. Very good and very easy to make.
Me too!
Does this dressing freeze well?
Yes, you can freeze it.
I love this recipe . It is simple and delicious. Thank you so uch
You are welcome.
This is so fresh and delicious. I used it to top Sarah Moulton’s tomato pie.
Nice!
I didn’t have shallot so I used a regular yellow onion. Do you think this diminishes the taste? I’ll try it next time with shallot; I just didn’t have any in my kitchen at the time. Couldn’t wait to try it and I’m glad I proceeded. Isn’t basil divine?
An onion is a fine replacement. I am glad you loved it.
It’s is quite salty tasting if you go right in with the full teaspoon. I would start at 1/2 teaspoon & taste from there.
Looks delish. Can i use onion instead of shallots?
Sure!
So fresh and easy! Great way to use basil from the garden
Yes! I love making it during the summertime.
I could not get basil at my local grocery store so I used spinach and it still turned of wonderful for the summer tortellini salad. Thanks for my new dressing.
Good to know. Thanks for sharing!