Orange Vinaigrette

This tasty orange vinaigrette is tangy, sweet & savory. Plus it’s Paleo & whole 30 compliant, sweetened with coconut aminos and orange juice.

Whether you eat Paleo, Whole 30 or are just looking for the most delicious orange salad dressing around, this recipe does it all! It has a perfect balance of tangy, sweet, salty and can even make kale taste good. Yup, it’s downright magical.

This orange salad dressing is easy peasy to make too. You add all ingredients to a jar, shake and then pour it over your favorite salad. It can elevate even just a pile of basic greens into something delicious.

Ingredients

The ingredients in this recipe are all simple but come together perfectly. Here’s what you’ll need to make this dressing:

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice
• 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. minced shallot
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 Tbsp. dijon or stone ground mustard
• 2 tsp. coconut aminos (can replace with 1 tsp. agave nectar and 1 tsp. Tamari or soy sauce)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. fresh cracked pepper

How to make orange vinaigrette

Well, as I said, the orange salad dressing is so easy to make. Once you have your oranges squeezed, the shallot minced and garlic pressed, just measure and toss all of the ingredients into your favorite jar. The dressing makes just under 8 ounces (1 cup) so you’ll need a container that is at least that size to have room for it all.

Once all the ingredients are added, shake for about 30 seconds until the oil and vinegar are emulsified. Pour over your salad and enjoy. If the dressing sits for a few minutes, you’ll need to shake it again before using.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this head of time?

Yes! If making the dressing ahead of time, be sure to shake well before pouring over salad. It is fine to just leave on the counter overnight to use the next day but for storing longer, you will need to refrigerate. Dressing will keep in the refrigerator 5-7 days. If refrigerated, bring to room temperature before shaking and using since the oil will become solid and dressing will be too thick when cold.

Does the orange juice need to be fresh squeezed?

No, but you’ll get the best results from fresh squeezed juice.

Are there substitutions for the shallot?

Shallot works best here since it has less bite than onion but if you only have a red or yellow onion, you can sub that in and let the prepared dressing rest for 10 minutes or so before shaking again and pouring over the salad. This will let the onion mellow out and take some of the bite out of it. If you don’t have onion, you can replace with 1/2 tsp. onion powder.

Can I substitute garlic powder for the garlic?

As with the shallot, fresh always creates the best flavor but if you’re in a hurry or are out of garlic, you can replace with 1/4 tsp. garlic powder.

Can I substitute other citrus for the orange?

Yes! I like using mandarins or tangerines. If you want to sub for lemon or lime, it won’t create the same flavor of course but will most likely still be pretty tasty.

Can I use regular mustard?

Please don’t. Dijon or stone ground mustard work best here.

Can I add orange zest to get a stronger orange flavor?

Absolutely! I wanted to keep this recipe simple but adding a bit of zest will up the orange flavor for sure. Just don’t add too much or it can become bitter.

Serving suggestions

There are so many good salad combos that pair fantastically with this dressing. It goes well with chicken, fish or shrimp as protein or you can add some chickpeas for a vegetarian protein source. Here are a few favorite combos:

• I love pairing this with a simple kale salad with toasted nuts and fresh orange. To elevate it, you can add some goat cheese or parmesan if you eat dairy.
• Pouring over fresh greens with avocado, orange, cucumber and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro is always tasty.
• It would be delicious with gorgonzola or bleu cheese, fresh orange pieces, and toasted pecans or walnuts and a protein source.

Other salad dressing recipes

If you’re on the hunt for salad dressings, I’ve got you covered. Here are some of my favorites:

• Blackberry salad dressing
• Lemon salad dressing
• Lemon tahini dressing
• Yogurt ranch dressing

Other salad recipes

As far as salads go, there are as many different options as there are people on this planet. Here are some of the best ones on the internet:

• This lemon kale salad makes an appearance at pretty much every family gathering we have, it’s so well loved!
• This green salad with blackberries has toasty pecans, feta and the most delicious tangy blackberry dressing.
• Curry green salad might sound weird but trust me – curry powder works great in this salad dressing and adds a fun, unexpected twist.
• If you’re looking for something heartier, this Mediterranean chicken salad is the bomb.com – super filling and absolutely delicious!
• A simple tomato, avocado, cucumber salad is easy to throw together and always a tasty option.