Sweet Basil Vinaigrette - this easy homemade salad dressing tastes just like summer! Fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, lime juice and salt and pepper are all you need to make this easy vinaigrette.
Once you taste this on some fresh sliced tomatoes, you will be in heaven.
Basil - My Favorite Herb of Summer
Well, if your climate is anything like mine, you’ve already made your first basil harvest of the season. I learned a couple of years ago that you are supposed to harvest your basil about once a month. By harvest, I mean go out and cut it down until it’s only about 4 inches tall, leaving a few bottom leaves.
It feels cruel and heartless, but your basil will respond with love and glee and by the next month with be a foot tall again ready to harvest! I usually get four good harvests from my basil: June, July, August and the final one in September.
Also, don't forget how easy it is to Root Basil Cuttings. So, you can start the year out with two basil plants and finish the year with twelve!
What to do with all that basil? One of my favorite things is to make Homemade Basil Pesto. I store it in the freezer in jars, just the right size to dress a pound of pasta. Then in the middle of winter, I can have the fresh basil flavor of summer.
My other favorite thing is to use basil in salad dressings, like this Sweet Basil Vinaigrette!
How to Make Homemade Basil Vinaigrette
Let's talk about how easy it is to make this easy homemade salad dressing!
First you want to gather your ingredients: you need fresh basil (only 5-7 leaves,) a lime, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salat and pepper.
Note: the recipe calls for balsamic vinegar, you can substitute a white balsamic, a red wine vinegar or even apple cider vinegar. The balsamic really plays off the sweetness of the basil and creates an elegant dressing, but you can use any other vinegars mentioned above.
Prep your ingredients - super easy! Stack your basil leaves and roll them up cigar style. Using your knife, thinly slice them. Juice the lime (I use an easy citrus press.)
Some people like to whisk their vinaigrettes. I prefer to shake mine in a jar. Since I am going to be storing it in the fridge anyway, this dirties one less dish. I am all about one less dirty dish! Place all the ingredients in the jar.
Put a tight lid on the jar and shake. Give a quick taste and add salt and pepper to taste!
That's it! You've just made an easy homemade vinaigrette!
Delicious Homemade Balsamic Basil Dressing
My favorite way to use this delicious homemade salad dressing is to simply drizzle it over some summer tomatoes. Sometimes I add a little feta or goat cheese and sometimes I don't. This dressing has so much flavor, it's all you need to turn tomatoes into the perfect summer salad!
It is literally summer on a plate. I found this recipe, many many years ago in an old Sarah Foster Cookbook.
More Salad Dressing Recipes
Easy Homemade Greek Vinaigrette
If you want even more salad dressing recipes, be sure and follow my Salad Dressings Board on Pinterest.
If you make this Sweet Basil Vinaigrette, I would love it if you would tag me on Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook
Sweet Basil Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 lime juiced
- 5-7 basil leaves fresh
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Juice the lime and pour the juice into a lidded jar.
- Stack the basil leaves on top of each other and roll together cigar style. Use your knife to cut them into thin strips. Add to jar.
- Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to jar with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Close the lid tightly and shake to combine. Open and taste, adjusting salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published in June 2010 and has been updated for June 2019!
wilhelmina says
This dressing is good on so many things! So delish!
Pam Greer says
Thank you!! We think it's so good too!
Taylor says
This is the best summer dressing! Love using fresh basil from my garden!
Pam Greer says
Fresh basil is the best!
a good yarn says
Sublime...life does not need to be any more complicated.
Terri says
Yummy. I need to go out and cut my basil! I have a ripe tomato on the vine, too, which just might get picked tonight!
Joanne says
Nothing tastes as good as fresh basil. I love this vinaigrette!
Kat says
My first year growing basil, and I needed to know that little tip. Going to get my scissors right now! Thanks Pam. That is indeed "summer on a plate"; a pretty plate by the way!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
I definitely have 5-7 basil leaves ready for harvest this weekend -- my very first basil harvest of the season, and I can't think of a better way to use it.
zurin says
The tomato salad sound delicious to me. I love basil. Maybe it can grow here. worth a try if I can have a vase of basil like yours:)
grace says
we have basil coming out of our ears (wouldn't that be a sight to behold...) and i'm already sick of pesto. this is a fabulous alternative use for it!
Anh says
Offcially *drooling* 🙂 I love basil!
Kim says
Your basil is doing really well! Mine is still on the small side, but I'm crossing my fingers.
5 Star Foodie says
This basil vinaigrette looks terrific, I like the combo with balsamic vinegar!
Amy says
I miss my garden so much. I would never trim my basil - I would let it grow like wildfire and make pesto (and freeze it in the winter months) as if it were going out of style. And I would take basil leaves and rosemary twigs...and rub them all over my dogs faces. They smelled wonderful the rest of the day 😉
theUngourmet says
I didn't know about the basil keeping in a vase. Awesome! Last year my basil grew like a weed but this year it's been so darn cold, it's pretty much dead. I will have to start over again. What a wonderful vinaigrette!
Tracy says
My mouth is watering - mmmm mmmmm that looks delicious! This is what I want for dinner. Thanks for the info on chopping down the basil - I had no idea. I've been doing it SSOOO wrong ever since I've been planting it in my garden!
Jhonny walker says
Thanks for all the great info. I usually manage to kill the basil but mostly I finish it
What a great herb! Thanks for the post Its bookmarked 🙂 🙂
Rachel says
Thanks for all the great information about growing basil. I never knew that you had to prune the basil plants so radically. I usually try to keep up with picking off the flowering tops, but now I know.
And thanks for sending this over to Weekend Herb Blogging. Look for the roundup on Monday!
SDK says
Oh, Pam, basil vinaigrette is all that is feeding my fetus these days. I use apple cider vinegar, a splash of orange juice, lots of basil and a clove of garlic. With goat cheese and sliced fruit and toasted pecans it is some good stuff.
Lea Ann says
Beautiful photos and great sounding recipe. I love basil! Another bookmarked.
mamakrystal says
Thanks for the basil tip...I never knew that and I've been staring it down trying to figure out what to do with my gigantic basil tree!! Beautiful vinaigrette!
sherry says
Heavenly, Pam.
Barbara says
I have the first Foster's Market cookbook and LOVE it!
I have to grow my basil in the kitchen, but love having fresh nearby for cooking.
Don't you adore the heirloom tomatoes? So much flavor. I love salads like this, with your basil vinaigrette. Also, a tomato sandwich on country bread with mayo and basil pesto is divine!
buffalodick says
When we get enough basil, I like to make pesto!
Marjie says
Great idea! Maybe I should plant some herbs other than chives? Of course, it's only 58 degrees here today, so nothing is growing outside. I am not amused.
Ty'sMommy says
That looks fantastic. Basil is, by far, my favorite herb. I haven't been as lucky as you have so far this year, but its finally starting to kick in and I am looking forward to some nice basil very soon!
Kalyn says
Drooling over this!
teresa-bug says
I need to harvest my basil...but it makes me so anxious. But that is why I don't ever good crops the entire summer.....
Cathy says
This is my idea of the perfect summer salad. I'm looking forward to picking my own basil but the rain washed the first planting away so it will be awhile.
June says
Honestly, what could be better than that! Basil's amazing...I have two plants at different stages of their lives and they grow like stink after they're cut back.
Cinnamon-Girl says
I am loving having fresh herbs right in my backyard...thanks for the tip on basil...mine needs to be cut right now...something I've never done. The vinaigrette is a lovely celebration of basil!
Mrs. Early says
Well, that explains it. I've been mistreating my Basil all along! That recipe looks delicious. I must try it!!
shabby girl says
I love learning about harvesting basil! I had no idea. I just picked as needed.
Summer on a plate; you nailed it!
Pam says
Perfect. I was just noticing my basil plant is going crazy! This vinaigrette looks delicious.
Mary says
I loved your tips on harvesting basil, Pam. Your salad sounds wonderful and your vinaigrette will definitely be tried here. I hope you are having a wonderful day. Blessings...Mary
once in a blue moon... says
ahh, the essence of summer...
Joy says
Thank you! So THAT'S how you're supposed to harvest basil! My first ever basil has been doing beautifully in a pot on my back deck. At lunch time, I will go home and cut it all back. Then I have to find some more recipes to use it with. I will be searching your blog later on basil.
Chanel11 says
This post has me missing my basil! Tomatoes and basil really are made for each other.