Citrus Salad Dressing

A tangy and sweet salad dressing that’s filled with fruity flavors.

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If you’re someone who eats a lot of salads, you might get tired of having the same kind of salad dressing again and again. Even as a huge fan of ranch dressing, I like to mix it up every now and then by experimenting with different dressings. One of my favorites is citrus salad dressing. It only takes about 5 minutes to put together using ingredients most people already have in their kitchen.

While it might sound a little unusual for a salad dressing at first glance, this citrus salad dressing combines the sweet and acidic taste of oranges and lemons. There’s an added touch of sweetness from the honey, a little zing from the Dijon mustard, and the olive oil balances the flavors and ensures it has the proper consistency of a salad dressing.

Is Citrus Salad Dressing Healthy?

Citrus salad dressing uses a lot of natural ingredients while minimizing refined sugars and sodium, making it a healthier option for many diets. The two types of citrus juice used provide a little vitamin C, while the extra virgin olive oil is a good option for a pure oil, versus processed oils often found in store-bought dressings.

Keep It Fresh…

The most important factor when making citrus salad dressing is using fresh ingredients. If possible, the orange juice and lemon juice should be fresh squeezed. This will produce the best possible quality. I’ve found that having a juicer comes in handy because it gives you fresh juice while also keeping seeds out of the salad dressing. It’s also important to use the correct amount of Dijon mustard and extra virgin olive oil because these ingredients are key to the emulsifying process.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine

Mix juices, honey, and mustard.

Emulsify

Gradually add olive oil while whisking.

Season

Add salt and pepper, then mix.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

how to make ahead and store

It’s important to store citrus salad dressing in the fridge using an airtight container. Make sure to use it within 3 days.

If I don’t have lemon juice, what else can I use?

Apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, and rice vinegar are all viable substitutes for lemon juice. However, only use half as much vinegar as you would lemon juice, so rather than 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, use ½ tablespoon of vinegar in this recipe.

Is there something I can use instead of honey?

Either agave or maple syrup can be used instead of honey while making this citrus salad dressing.

Serving Suggestions

Naturally, citrus salad dressing can be used on any salad you like. In the past, I’ve used it on Chicken Cobb Salad. In addition to traditional salads, you can also use this dressing on Pasta Salad and Quinoa Salad. If you like this dressing, you should also consider using it as a marinade, perhaps on Air Fryer Grilled Chicken.

If you’d like to try other salad dressings with a twist of fruit, I recommend Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette, especially during the summer.