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I call this Honey Lemon Salad Dressing "magical" as it can take even the simplest greens and transform them into a fresh, vibrant, rave-worthy salad!
I've been keeping a jar of this Honey Lemon Salad Dressing tucked in the fridge, ready to add a little delicious pizzazz to any meal. The moment we start running low, I whip up another batch-it's just that good! Every time I serve it to guests, it's met with rave reviews, and someone inevitably asks for the recipe.
A few weeks ago, I brought the salad picture below to a potluck dinner before our weekly Bible study. I used Little Gem Lettuce, sliced mandarin oranges, sliced mini cukes, and Pickled Red Onions, all topped with a drizzle of this Honey Lemon Dressing and a scatter of Candied Pistachios.
The salad was a huge hit - but it seemed that the star of the show was the dressing. Everyone raved about it, and several people couldn't wait to know what was in it. One friend even exclaimed, "That dressing is so good, I could drink it!".
Bright and sunny
My husband, Scott laughs when I say, "A fresh, delicious salad makes me happy". Okay, not happy in a deep down sense but a fabulous salad drizzled with a good dressing, makes me feel like my whole body is smiling. This dressing is so bright, and sunny, that it will make you smile too!
Why everyone loves this dressing
- It's the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
- This homemade dressing is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully with just about any salad.
- In addition to tossing it with fresh greens, you can drizzle it over roasted vegetables, use it as a marinade, or spoon it over grilled chicken, salmon, shrimp, etc. Its bright, citrusy notes bring a refreshing touch to so many things!
- I love that it's made with fresh, natural ingredients-no preservatives or artificial flavors!
- Making this Honey Lemon Salad Dressing is way cheaper than any salad dressing you can buy!
- It's super easy to make!
To blend or not to blend
I love how quickly this dressing comes together. Just throw all the ingredients in a jar and shake, shake, shake. That's it!
If you prefer a creamier Honey Lemon Salad Dressing, throw all the ingredients (olive oil, fresh lemon juice, white wine vinegar, honey, Dijon, garlic and salt) into a blender and whirr until well blended then store it in a jar. I love this KitchenAid Mini Food Processor and use it almost every day. (I'm so sold on this little kitchen workhorse that I often give it as a wedding or shower gift.)
What are the ingredients?
- fresh lemon juice
- white wine vinegar
- honey
- Dijon mustard
- minced garlic
- kosher salt
- extra virgin olive oil
Skip the store-bought salad dressing
This Honey Lemon Salad Dressing is simple, delicious, and packed with fresh flavor. Once you try it, you'll never go back to store-bought dressings! It's sure to become a must-have staple, as it is for me.
Let me know how you like to use it in the comments and be sure to share it with family and friends who love a delicious homemade dressing.
Café Tips for making this Honey Lemon Salad Dressing
- Fresh lemon juice will give the best flavor, but bottled can work in a pinch.
- I like to use extra virgin olive oil but avocado oil or another mild-flavored oil will also work.
Yes, maple syrup is another option or agave for a vegan option.
It's good in the fridge for at least a week.
- Olive oil can solidify after a day or two in the refrigerator. If you take it out and it seems to be solid at the top, let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes or run the jar under warm water, then give it a good shake and you'll be good to go!
Yes! You can either reduce the amount of honey or replace it with your favorite sugar-free sweetener.
Thought for the day:
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul,
firm and secure.
Hebrews 6:19
What we've been listening to for inspiration:
If you enjoy this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It's so helpful to other readers to hear your results, adaptations and ideas for variations.
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Honey Lemon Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 small cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
To make in a glass mason-type jar:
- Combine all ingredients in a pint-size glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Screw the lid on tightly and shake, shake, shake until everything is well combined.
To make in a blender:
- For a creamier version of this dressing, combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil in a blender container.
- Blend on high for 30 seconds or until well combined.
- A the olive oil and blend again, just until the mixture is creamy and well-combined. (It's best to not blend the olive oil too long as it can take on a bitter taste.)
- Transfer the mixture to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
To store:
- This Honey Lemon Salad Dressing will keep well stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days. ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
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Amazing! So easy, also
I didn’t have honey, so I substituted agave syrup. I had leftovers of your arugula corn salad and left over wild rice. I mixed them together and served with this honey lemon dressing. Chef’s kiss!!
That's great, Nancy! Thanks for the review!
I misplaced my other favorite lemon dressing from you ( I believe maybe your sister shared it) anyway, made this and very good as well! And of course! I to my dismay hand no lemons, but fresh limes and it was very good with limes as well! So thought I would share it. Everything else remained the same.
Thanks for letting us know, JJnAZ! Maybe one of these recipes is what you're looking for? https://thecafesucrefarine.com/5-fabulous-lemon-salad-dressings-to-take-your-greens-from-ho-hum-to-extraordinary/
I love this salad dressing and also those amazing asparagus recipes posted today. Also mention having the recipe sent directly to the email allows me to have the recipe if I’m visiting family and want to try it out without having to write it out or print it out. That’s a great idea.
Thanks for the comment, Carolyn!
Hi Chris, this dressing blows your socks of and gets the mouth juices flowing. Wow, Wow, Wow.
The presentation of all your dishes (plates, bowls Jugs etc.) is in the same Wow league.
The Honey Salad Dressing Jug is just perfect. Will you share where you purchased it or has it been in the family forever.
Love all that you do.
If you ever feel like a sea change Queensland Australia is the place to come.
Meryl
Thanks so much, Meryl! I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment. Hope you will enjoy the dressing as much as we have.
Regarding your question, I wish I had a better answer. It hasn’t been in the family, but I did find it in a little flea market many years ago in Paris. So I don’t know who made it or exactly where it came from.
When we travel, I’m always looking for fun props for the blog. I guess you could call me a prop junkie! 😂
We would love to visit Australia one day. I’ve heard amazing things about it!
Is that delicious salad shown with the dressing also on your web site?
Hi Peggy, the salad itself is not on the website but I did share above in the post what's in the salad and left links for the pickled red onions as well as the candied pistachios.
To make it, choose your favorite greens, add some sliced fresh mandarin oranges, sliced mini cukes and the pickled red onions. Drizzle it with this lemon dressing and scatter some of the candied pistachios over the top. So yummy!