Garlic-Basil Balsamic Dressing (Oil-Free)

An immensely flavorful (oil-free!) balsamic vinaigrette dressing recipe with fresh basil and garlic. It pairs great with a wide variety of salads. Plus it's especially wonderful in the summertime with fresh garden basil. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

This tangy Garlic-Basil Balsamic Dressing is a great way to incorporate fresh basil in the summertime when the herb is at peak harvest.

It provides big flavor on fresh salads, and is made with simple ingredients.

Garlic and balsamic paired together is delightful. But adding fragrant fresh basil takes it to a whole other level!

Ingredients for Basil Balsamic Vinaigrette

For this salad dressing recipe you will whisk together in a small bowl or jar:

• Balsamic vinegar
• Fresh garlic clove
• Fresh basil: Use as much or as little as you would like.
• Dijon mustard: This adds great flavor and a more complex taste to the dressing.
• Pure maple syrup: This helps balance the flavors with a little natural sweetness.
• Nutritional yeast: This adds a slightly savory taste to the dressing.
• Water
• Salt: I use fine-grain salt for this recipe. You can also include black pepper if desired.

Customizing

Olive oil: I prepare this dressing oil-free, but feel free to blend in a tablespoon or two of good quality extra-virgin olive oil if you wish to create a thicker dressing.

Sweetness: For a sweeter dressing, add additional maple syrup to taste.

Serving

Pour this bold dressing over veggies or green salad. It's great either on a side salad or large dinner salad. I like preparing a salad with mixed greens, vegetables, berries, a protein like chickpeas (or roasted chickpeas), plus crumbled vegan feta cheese sometimes.

Storing

Store leftovers in a sealed glass container or jar in the refrigerator. We find it keeps well for about 4 days.

Yield: This recipe makes about 1/3 cup dressing so increase as desired.

For more inspiration, also browse all oil-free vegan dressing recipes or basil recipes.

Garlic-Basil Balsamic Dressing

A flavorful oil-free balsamic dressing with fresh basil and garlic. Lovely with a wide variety of salads!

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Dressing, Salad

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 3

US CustomaryMetric

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 Tbsp. fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2-3 tsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp. nutritional yeast
• 2 tsp. water
• 1/8 tsp. salt

Instructions

• Mince garlic and finely chop basil.
• Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. (Or add to a small jar, then seal and shake well to combine.)
• Adjust flavors if desired. Store in a sealed container or jar in the refrigerator for about 4 days.

Notes

Yield: Recipe makes about 1/3 cup dressing. Double or triple as desired.

Sweetness: Add additional maple syrup to taste for a sweeter dressing.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Garlic-Basil Balsamic Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

39

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

1

g

2

%

Saturated Fat

 

1

g

6

%

Potassium

 

61

mg

2

%

Carbohydrates

 

8

g

3

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

6

g

7

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

 

39

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

17

mg

2

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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If you are enjoying this oil free basil balsamic vinaigrette dressing, also check out:

• Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing
• Thai Peanut Dressing
• Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing
• Marinated Kale Salad
• Southwestern Chopped Salad

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