Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing {& Marinade}
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A simple recipe for Apple Cider Vinaigrette dressing, 5 minutes is all it takes! Made with simple ingredients, yielding extraordinary flavor. With zesty apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, a bright citrus flair with orange juice and lightly sweetened with maple syrup. What I love the most about this dressing is it also doubles as a marinade!
This dressing pairs perfectly with this Harvest Roasted Butternut Squash Salad and would also be delicious on this Sweet Maple Apple Salad or this Wild Rice Harvest Salad.
Homemade salad dressings are so simple to make, and are far better than anything store bought! This creamy apple cider vinaigrette is non-dairy, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan!
Apple Cider Vinaigrette Ingredients
Simple, clean, non-dairy ingredients — all of the measurements and details are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.
- Apple Cider Vinegar | I wouldn’t be an apple cider vinaigrette without it! I like Bragg’s or Trader Joe’s.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil | Use the good stuff here, you don’t need much and it has a milder flavor.
- Orange Juice | Fresh squeezed is best here, but I won’t judge.
- Maple Syrup | just a touch, reduce or omit if you prefer, but it adds the perfect bit of sweetness, naturally.
- Dijon Mustard | This adds the creaminess to the dressing, be sure to double check that your mustard is gluten-free and vegan, if that matters to you.
HINT | If you plan on using this delicious dressing for a salad and to marinate some chicken, then double the dressing.
How to Make Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing
It’s quite complicated, no, not really. This recipe seriously takes 5 minutes!
Pour all ingredients into a mason jar, shake vigorously and pour!
Storage
Keep your zesty apple cider vinaigrette in the fridge, covered in an airtight container, the dressing should easily last a week, but I have honestly had it last up to a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
Simply put, apple cider vinegar (commonly referred to as ACV) is a fermentation of apple cider, which is simple juice extracted from apples.
Since the apple cider goes through a fermentation process, this produces something called the “mother”. A combination of yeast and bacteria formed during fermentation. If you look at an unfiltered apple cider vinegar bottle, you can see strands of the “mother” floating around.
ACV is rich in B-vitamins and polyphenols (plant-based antioxidants).
The probiotics, acetic acid, and the nutrients in ACV are responsible for its health benefits. (Source) debunking the health benefits.
Before bottling, some apple cider vinegars are heat treated and filtered.
Simple, clean, whole food ingredients. Olive oil, apple cider vinegar, orange juice, Dijon mustard and maple syrup are in this recipe. Light, clean and fresh!
Apple cider vinegar has been known to contribute to weight loss, as well as reducing insulin leaves and blood sugar. Apple cider vinegar also promotes fullness, which could in turn be good for weight loss.
By definition a vinaigrette is a combination of an oil and something acidic, while a dressing is more of a generalized term for a sauce that is usually served cold and is used to coat salads, fish or meat dishes.
Apple Cider Marinade
The way I use this vinaigrette as a marinade most often is with chicken, however the flavors sing on pork, steak and fish too!
To use apple cider vinaigrette as a marinade, place meat in a baggie or container, pour enough marinade over to coat one side, marinating at least 60 minutes, turning half way through.
Suggested Uses for Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- The obvious choice and the way I use it most often is as a salad dressing.
- Consider drizzling over grains or on a pasta salad
- Use it to marinate veggies, chicken, pork, fish or steak. Or drizzle a little over the top just as it’s finishing cooking!
Variations
- Omit or alter the amounts of the maple syrup in this dressing.
- Chop and add one shallot or clove of garlic to the dressing.
- Omit the orange juice if desired, or try a smaller amount of lemon or even grapefruit juice.
Recommended Equipment
Obviously, you do not need anything fancy for this apple cider salad dressing. But, here are a few fun things!
- Mason Jar | Any jar will work!
- Measuring Devices | These are my favorite measuring spoons and these mini measuring cups are one of my favorite kitchen tools!
- Serving Jar | I love this simple salad cruet
More great dressing, sauce & marinade recipes
- Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
- Maple Dijon Vinaigrette {Salad Dressing}
- How to Make Pizza Sauce | Best Pizza Sauce
- Easy Teriyaki Sauce & Marinade Recipe
- Rocky Mountain Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
- Carrabba’s Grill Seasoning
Like this recipe?
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Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing & Marinade
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup orange juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup, optional
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Mix all dressing ingredients in glass jar with lid and shake well until combined.
- Or place in blender for a minute until emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to use.
✱ Kathleen’s Tips
Suggested Uses for Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- The obvious choice and the way I use it most often is as a salad dressing.
- Consider drizzling over grains or on a pasta salad
- Use it to marinate veggies, chicken, pork, fish or steak. Or drizzle a little over the top just as it's finishing cooking!
Variations
- Omit or alter the amounts of the maple syrup in this dressing.
- Chop and add one shallot or clove of garlic to the dressing.
- Omit the orange juice if desired, or try a smaller amount of lemon or even grapefruit juice.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Fresh Cooky is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
About Kathleen Pope
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen. Read more about Kathleen here.
This apple cider vinaigrette looks perfect for pairing with a fall salad! I’ve been baking up a storm with reduced apple cider lately, so this vinaigrette recipe will be a wonderful savory compliment to all my sweet. 😉
Thank you so much! Love the whole apple cider reduction idea!