Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette with Walnut Oil - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2024)

This homemade walnut balsamic vinaigrette is a simple classic salad dressing that goes so well with many fall and cool season salad combinations. I’m telling you, you’ll be making it over and over for months to come.

Why We Love This Recipe For Walnut Balsamic Vinaigrette

You know how there are some recipes that you make over and over again? You don’t even need to look at the recipe anymore because you’ve memorized it. You may even refer to it as your recipe. Well, this homemade walnut oil vinaigrette has the potential to be one of those recipes. I know that’s a bold statement, but it’s true!

This dressing is just special enough to make you say hmmm, I really like that! The sweet and tart homemade balsamic vinaigrette, just a little maple syrup (not enough to really call it a maple balsamic), the chopped thyme, the raw garlic. It all just works, and all you have to do is chuck the ingredients into the blender and whirl ’em up.

Then, there’s the walnut oil, and I really hope you try this healthy balsamic vinaigrette recipe with the roasted walnut oil. You can of course make this with avocado oil or organic canola oil, but the walnut is what pushes this dressing from basic to signature. To “my walnut balsamic vinaigrette” status.

Key Ingredients For This Recipe

Walnut Oil

Roasted walnut oil is a rich nutty flavored cooking oil that is high in omega-3 fatty acids. It can be found with other oils in large supermarkets, health food stores and specialty food stores. It has a richer more nutty flavor than un-roasted walnut oil. It is good for medium-high heat cooking and for finishing. Store it in the refrigerator once it is open. I used La Tourangelle from California.

If you would like to make this recipe without the walnut oil you can substitute another oil. I’d recommend that you choose a neutral oil such as avocado oil or organic canola oil. If you want to make this with olive oil, try a 50:50 mixture of extra-virgin olive oil and neutral oil.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic is perfect for a fall or chilly weather flavor palette like this dressing because has a sweetness that cuts any bitterness from seasonal autumnal or winter produce. It’s a delicious pairing with the roasty nuttiness of the oil too.

Pure Maple Syrup

The pure maple syrup (dark or amber) isn’t enough to come through a maple flavor, but it’s enough to balance all of the other ingredients with a delicate sweetness.

See Also

Brussels Sprouts in Saor RecipeCandied Pecans Recipe5 Delicious Dipping Sauce RecipesLow-Carb Keto Spiced Nuts Recipe

How to Make Walnut Oil Salad Dressing

To make this easy balsamic vinaigrette recipe, simply add all the ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth. For this homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing recipe, I used a mixture of walnut oil (which, as I’ve mentioned, is AMAZING), balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon, garlic, salt and pepper. That’s it!

You could also use an immersion blender if that works better for you! If you prefer to mix this by hand it will not be as creamy. Just make sure to mince the garlic or grate it with a metal rasp-style grater (Microplane) so there are no large chunks of raw garlic in the dressing.

FAQs and Expert Tips

Serving Suggestions

We use this for our Black Lentil Salad with Mediterranean flavors.

Try in our Thanksgiving Kale Salad with Delicata Squash, Spiced Nuts and Cranberries.

Toss with a classic Garden Salad.

We love it with salads like this Harvest Fall Cobb Salad or this Arugula and Butternut Squash Salad.

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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