Apple Cider Dijon Vinaigrette

• Extra virgin olive oil

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Dijon Mustard
• Maple Syrup
• Garlic Powder (or fresh cloves)
• Black Pepper
• Kosher salt

You’ll need a bowl and spoon to whip it all together. Yep, it’s that simple.

I measured out the ingredients first. You’ll need ¼ cup of oil, ¼ cup of vinegar, 1 tsp maple syrup, ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard. The spices can vary based on taste. I measured out a ¼ teaspoon of pepper and kosher salt.  I used ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. You can substitute 1 clove of minced garlic instead.

Combine all ingredients together except for the olive oil. You may tweak the maple sugar and garlic to your liking. I like my dressing tarter rather than sweeter, so I keep the added sugar low; however, if you prefer more than go for it! 

Benefits of Making Homemade Dressings

Along with cutting down on your grocery bill, making dressings in-house have some additional perks. Have you seen the back of some of these dressing bottles? They’re packed with ingredients–many of which I don’t know. As I get older, and feed my kids more foods, I question whether I want to increase their exposure to manufactured products and chemicals. Sure, we eat a few things here and there, but the goal is to minimize outside preservatives and unknowns. When I prepare the salad dressings, I know exactly what I’m putting in my body and theirs.

Another serious concern for me is reducing our intake of processed sugar. We have three kids, and they do love sugar. I don’t keep them from eating it, but I do like thinking about the exposure. Dressings can be high in sugar–which may increase inflammation within the body. In our recipes, I know exactly how much I’m putting into the recipe and I know what kind of sugar I’m using. I keep maple syrup on hand. Those who eat honey may choose to use that as well, and if you’re looking for sugar-free options grab Stevia.

Maple sugar is lower on the glycemic index so it tends to raise blood sugar at a slower pace. Use it in moderation to give a bit of sweetness to your meals. 

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

Vinegar is a great salad ingredient as they often have a punch of flavor. Along with making some scrumptious, it’s also healthy. Studies show that the inclusion of it within your diet could offer several benefits including lowering blood sugar, boosting metabolism and improving gut health. This vinegar, also known as ACV for short, consists of something known as the moth and acetic acid.These two elements are associated with amino acids and protein, linked with health perks.

Some believe that this vinegar allows you to feel fuller after eating, minimizing the cravings for something extra. I’ll be honest that I need a bit of help in this area as I like to snack. I want my salads to keep me full so I avoid grabbing extra calories during the day. 

How To Store Your Dressing for Future Use

While store-bought dressings last for a long time, a homemade dressing is best consumed within 5-7 days. Make it in small batches so you don’t waste anything. Keep it in a cool place such as the fridge to help with freshness. It is likely to congeal–that is the law of physics with olive oil! However, you can take it out at the start of dinner prep and allow it to thaw out. Give it a good shake and you’re ready to go! It may help to have on hand a dressing container with an easy spot, especially if you only use a little bit at a time. The following dressing container is one on Amazon that allows for easy mixing and storage.

Different Ways to Use the Dressing

If you’re like me, you keep busy! We spend most evenings at the fields or on a court as our kids lead pretty active lives. That means I need to have easy things on hand because dinner time is short and often spaced out among members. This recipe is a wonderful option for salads, but I like it even more because it’s versatile with other dishes!

I came up with the dressing on a whim because I wanted to have a bit of tart and sweet for our salads. My husband and I love a good kale salad, so I crafted this vinaigrette to round out our Energy-packed Kale Salad. It compliments the sweetness from the pomegranates and apples.

Even better, I found I could use it on roasted root veggies. The cider flavor pairs well with carrots and beets. Um, two of my favorites for the fall and winter. Overall, it's a simple way to enhance flavor on quick weekday meals, so I find it’s become a staple for us.

How Much Does It Cost?

So, you know I’m all about saving money. For this recipe, I had all of the ingredients in the house, so I didn’t run to the store to buy anything. It’s part of my staples. Now, if you had to start from scratch, your cost for this recipe would run around. Price points here are estimates from our local Walmart. Prices may vary based on location and store.

• $0.40 for 1 garlic clove
• $7.48 for 1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil
• $1.52 for a bottle of Dijon mustard
• $4.48 for a bottle of apple cider vinegar
• $5.67 for a bottle of maple syrup

Now, this totals $19.55 which seems like a lot! However, these ingredients feed into multiple bottles of dressing and plenty of other recipes bringing the cost significantly lower. 

Instructions:

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oi

• l¼ cup of apple cider vinegar

• 1 tsp maple syrup

•  ½ Tbsp Dijon mustard.

•  ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

• ¼ tsp black pepper

•  ½ teaspoon of garlic powder or 1 garlic clove minced

  
  

1. Measure ingredients and set aside.

2. Add all ingredients except olive oil together into a bowl. Stir to combine.

3. Gradually add in your olive oil, whisking well.

4. Pour dressing directly on salad OR, if not using right away, store dressing in an air-tight container. 

5. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.