Maple Balsamic Dressing (Oil-Free!)

This full-flavored Maple Balsamic Dressing recipe is simple to prepare and blends up in minutes! It's deliciously sweet & tangy with bright herb flavors. Great on a wide variety of salads! (Vegan, gluten-free, refined oil-free.)

This easy Maple Balsamic Dressing adds a whole other level of flavor to your salads and greens! It blends up in 5 minutes with just a few simple ingredients.

Making your own homemade salad dressing allows you to control the ingredients and fine-tune it exactly the way you want it. Plus there's an added freshness you just can't beat!

This dressing is delightfully tangy with rich balsamic flavor, a hint of sweetness, and bright herb flavors. It's truly one of our favorites and I hope you enjoy it too!

Ingredients for Maple Balsamic Dressing

For this recipe, you'll blend in a small high-speed blender:

• Balsamic vinegar
• Pure maple syrup: This adds delicious natural sweetness, and helps balance the tanginess of the vinegar.
• Tahini: This is made from ground sesame seeds. It adds body, richness, and slight creamy texture to the dressing. (I use it instead of refined oil in this recipe.)
• Dijon mustard: Or you can substitute with another mustard of choice.
• White miso: This is a fermented soybean paste. It has mild umami flavor and is absolutely delicious in dressings and sauces to give it a deeper, more complex flavor. I highly recommend including it, but if you don't have any then simply salt to taste instead. (Add black pepper as well if desired.)
• Italian seasoning: Be sure your pantry spices are fresh (not expired) for best flavor.
• Garlic powder: Or for a stronger taste, substitute a fresh garlic clove.

Customizing

Fresh herbs: For a seasonal or holiday twist, fresh rosemary adds strong piney taste and aromatics. (Just a little goes a long way! I only stir in about a quarter teaspoon if I'm including it.) Or you can whisk or blend in fresh parsley, fresh basil, or other herbs that sound good. Change it up with the season if you wish.

Dried herbs: If you don't have Italian seasoning, use a pinch of dried basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram, etc.

Make it creamier: Try this similar oil-free Creamy Balsamic Dressing for an extra-creamy version made with hummus!

Adding oil: If you include oil in your diet and wish to turn this into a vinaigrette dressing, add a tablespoon or two of high quality extra virgin olive oil while blending.

Blender note: I use a small Nutribullet blender for this recipe. Blending it breaks down all the ingredients and herbs so they fully incorporate. (I recommend blending, but you can whisk the dressing together in a small bowl instead if you wish.)

Serving

Salads: This is our go-to dressing for tossed salads, chopped salads, holiday salads, or simple dinner salads. (I love it on this Roasted Chickpea Salad with Hummus.)

Steamed veggies: Spoon it over your favorite steamed vegetables before serving for rich flavor.

Marinade: I haven't tested this, but I'm guessing it could also be a great marinade for tempeh, tofu, etc.

Storing

Store leftover dressing in a glass mason jar with lid (or other airtight container) in the refrigerator. I find it keeps for about 5-7 days. It thickens a little more as it sits, so it's great made ahead of time.

For more inspiration, also browse all salad dressing recipes.

If you're enjoying this oil-free Maple Balsamic Dressing recipe, also check out:

• Strawberry Balsamic Dressing
• Roasted Red Pepper Dressing
• Vegan Italian Dressing

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