Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing
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This homemade raspberry vinaigrette dressing is made with 8 simple ingredients and is customizable based on your preferences. Use for salads or as a marinade. Bonus points: it’s seedless!
This recipe is brought to you in partnership with Bushel and Berry®.
WHY MAKE YOUR OWN RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE?
I know. It’s so easy to just buy your own dressing. I get it. But here’s the thing: once we started having dietary restrictions and preferences in our house, I started making our own dressings to help the bellies and digestive systems of the people in my family. Homemade dressings can be made without preservatives, gluten, soy, dairy, or any other ingredients that may be problematic (or just preferrable!) for you.
If homemade or simple dressings are your thing, too, consider making your own Italian dressing! You might also like this Jennifer Aniston salad, or this blueberry almond quinoa kale salad (and the same salad in an apple version!) which are both made with incredibly simple dressings, not to mention, they’re downright delicious.
WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE
YOU CAN USE FRESH OR FROZEN RASPBERRIES: sometimes there is no substitute for fresh fruit, but in this recipe, it’s totally fine. That means you can make it year round, even if you don’t have your own raspberry plant (more on that in a second).
THERE ARE ONLY 8 INGREDIENTS: simple is the name of the game! You can even omit the honey if your raspberries are extra sweet or you just don’t want to make your dressing any sweeter.
YOU CAN MAKE IT AHEAD: the vinaigrette will stay fresh in the fridge for about a week. You can freeze it without issue, too!
INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED
FRESH RED RASPBERRIES: you’ll need 6 ounces of raspberries. Fresh are preferred, but frozen will work, too. Thanks to Bushel and Berry®, I always have fresh raspberries available to me because I have my own plant. This Raspberry Shortcake® plant stays small enough to grow in a patio container and doesn’t have any pesky thorns.
EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: quality EVOO is a game changer when it comes to flavor, and it’s definitely not something you’ll find in a store-bought dressing unless you’re paying very top dollar for that dressing. Choose the best olive oil you can comfortably afford. It will make a difference.
RED WINE VINEGAR: adding vinegar to a dressing will make it taste like a dressing instead of just sweetened raspberry juice. It also helps balance out the sweetness from the honey and the tartness from the lemon.
LEMON JUICE: lemon juice brightens flavors, helps cut through oil, and adds acidity to brighten flavors, cut through oil to make the dressing smoother, and adds some acidity (which we’re also getting from the vinegar). Fresh is preferred!
HONEY: this is an optional ingredient, but since raspberries can tend to be a bit tart, honey will help add some necessary sweetness. You can also use agave, maple syrup, or another preferred liquid sweetener. You’ll want to taste the dressing when its finished and you can decide if you want to make it a little sweeter than directed.
SALT, PEPPER, & GARLIC POWDER: just a bit of each to add some seasoning and complementary flavor. You can adjust these to your preference once you taste the vinaigrette.
HOW TO MAKE RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE: OVERVIEW
STEP #1: start by mashing and straining the raspberries. This will be the base of your vinaigrette.
STEP #2: add the remaining ingredients and whisk until combined. I like to use a handheld milk frother to pulse the mixture.
STEP #3: taste the vinaigrette and season with additional honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, or whatever other seasonings to your liking. It’s now ready to use!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE
Of course, you can dress your salad with raspberry vinaigrette, but don’t limit yourself to just a salad! Consider using this as a chicken marinade or sauce. You could even cook it down to make more of a reduction if you want to brush some meat with it.
And if you’re feeling really creative, you can replace the Italian dressing on my spaghetti salad with this raspberry dressing and add fresh raspberries alongside those crunchy veggies (I do love a good fruit + veggie combo– just ask my strawberry caprese pasta salad).
MORE FRESH RASPBERRY RECIPES
Grab some extra raspberries and make some raspberry tiramisu or raspberry Linzer cookies next!
Fresh Raspberry Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (171g) fresh raspberries1
- ¼ cup (60mL) extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup (60mL) red wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon (15mL) fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon (15ml) honey optional2
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place a fine mesh strainer over a small bowl or glass measuring cup. Place the raspberries in the strainer, then use a fork to mash the berries.6 ounces (171g) fresh raspberries1
- When all the berries are mashed, use the back of a large spoon to push the pulp through the strainer. Be patient as it will take a bit of time for the puree to come through. You are looking for about ⅓ cup of puree. Discard remaining pulp.
- Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder and whisk until combined. I like to use a handheld milk frother to pulse the mixture. You can also transfer the mixture to a lidded jar and shake to combine.¼ cup (60mL) extra virgin olive oil, ¼ cup (60mL) red wine vinegar, 1 Tablespoon (15mL) fresh lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon (15ml) honey, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Taste the vinaigrette and season with additional honey, salt, pepper, garlic powder, or whatever other seasonings to your liking. Store vinaigrette in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to use, or for up to one week. If the oil hardens, you can gently warm the jar in the microwave for about 10 seconds or run it under hot water.
Notes
- Raspberries: fresh raspberries are preferred, but frozen will work, too. Thaw frozen raspberries before using.
- Honey: this is optional as some folks prefer a totally unsweetened dressing. You can use agave or another liquid sweetener, if you prefer.
Nutrition Disclosure
All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.