Dairy-Free Creamy Balsamic Dressing is a rich, tangy dressing made with balsamic vinegar, tahini, mustard, and a touch of maple syrup for balance. It goes perfectly with veggie bowls and salads. Plus, it's dairy-free, oil-free, and gluten-free.
Save This Recipe!
Type your email & I'll send it to you!
Jump to:
- 👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
- 🫙 Substitutions
- 📝 How to Make Creamy Balsamic Dressing
- ✔️ Expert Tips
- 🫙 More Healthy Dressings
- 🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
- 🥗 Pair this dressing with...
- 👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
- ⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
- Dairy-Free Creamy Balsamic Dressing Recipe
- 🛍️ Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
- 💬 Comments
👩🏼🌾 Ingredients
Below, I share ingredient notes from both a nutrition expert's and trained chef's perspective.
- Balsamic vinegar: Adds tangy sweetness and depth of flavor while helping brighten the entire dressing.
- Tahini: Creates a naturally creamy texture while adding plant protein, healthy fats, and a rich nutty flavor.
- Mustard: Adds sharpness and complexity while helping emulsify the dressing so it stays smooth and well combined.
- Maple syrup: Balances the acidity of the balsamic vinegar with a subtle natural sweetness.
- Shallots (optional): Provide mild onion flavor and extra savory depth without overpowering the dressing.
- Red chili pepper (optional): Adds gentle heat and contrast that makes the dressing more vibrant.
See the printable recipe card below for quantities.
🫙 Substitutions
This recipe is versatile and easy to adapt. Below are some simple ingredient substitutions.
- Spicy - Add more chili peppers for spicy. This recipe is not too spicy as written.
- Shallots - omit as desired
- Tahini - omit the tahini as desired but the dressing will be more of a sauce and less creamy
- Mustard - use whole grain mustard or Dijon
📝 How to Make Creamy Balsamic Dressing
The complete recipe with exact amounts is below. These additional tips will help you get the best results.
- Transfer the balsamic vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, shallot, and red chili pepper to a small skillet or saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add the water and adjust until a desired sauce-like consistency.
- Remove from the stove and add the tahini. Add warm water as needed, until the desired creaminess.
- I especially enjoy this Creamy Balsamic Dressing with my Roasted Chickpea Salad recipe.
✔️ Expert Tips
These simple steps help preserve freshness, taste, and texture:
- The sweetness of the dressing will vary depending on the brand of balsamic vinegar. Add the maple syrup one teaspoon at a time until the desired sweetness.
- Add the warm dressing straight from the skillet to transform your salad or grain bowl into a nourishing and comforting warm meal.
- Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Creamy Balsamic Dressing in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Serve warm or chilled. Reheat on the stovetop, adding more water as needed, or in the microwave.
🫙 More Healthy Dressings
5-Minute Light Tahini Dressing is a lighter, lower-calorie dressing that goes with everything-salads, bowls, or roasted veggies.
Add flavor, antioxidants, and texture to any dish with three 10-minute Easy Vegan Green Sauce recipes.
This oil-free fresh Herb Dressing is bursting with fresh flavor from basil, parsley, and lemon, balanced by savory miso, a hint of garlic, and a touch of natural sweetness.
🙋🏽♀️ Recipe FAQs
Balsamic vinaigrette is a specific type of balsamic dressing made by emulsifying balsamic vinegar with olive oil and other ingredients like mustard, honey, and herbs/spices. Balsamic dressing is any salad dressing made with balsamic vinegar as the main ingredient, with or without olive oil.
Traditional balsamic vinegar is made via a multi-step process of reducing and fermenting whole-pressed white grapes. The grapes are pressed whole-stems, seeds, and juice. This is followed by a long aging period in a series of wooden barrels.
The grapes in balsamic vinegar improve arterial function. Balsamic vinegar also removes any negative effects on arteries from the oil when consumed in a vinaigrette!
In general, consuming vinegar with a meal reduces the spike in blood sugar, insulin, and triglycerides. It works especially well in pre-diabetics showing signs of insulin resistance.
Looking for the "Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale" label, grape must as the only ingredient, a D.O.P. seal, thick viscosity, complex flavor, and a premium price are reliable indicators of an authentic, high-quality traditional balsamic vinegar.
My preferred brands include Bellino Organic, Barengo, Di Bruno Bros., Good & Gather Signature, and Lucini.
🥗 Pair this dressing with...
👩🏽🍳 Made this recipe?
Let me know your thoughts on Daiy-Free Balsamic Dressing by leaving a ⭐️ rating below or sharing it on Instagram.
⚖️ Convert the Recipe to Metric (g & mL)
Use these AI tools to do this:
Dairy-Free Creamy Balsamic Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard
- 2 to 3 teaspoons maple syrup
- 1 medium shallot thinly sliced
- 1 small red chili pepper rib and seeds removed, minced
- 2 tablespoons water plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon tahini plus more to taste
Save This Recipe!
Type your email & I'll send it to you!
Instructions
- Heat: Transfer the balsamic vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, shallot, and red chili pepper to a small skillet or saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and cook for about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Add the water and adjust until the desired sauce-like consistency.
- Remove from the heat. Add the tahini and warm water as needed, until the desired creaminess.
Notes
-
- The sweetness of the dressing will vary depending on the brand of Balsamic vinegar. Add the maple syrup one teaspoon at a time until the desired sweetness.
- Add the warm dressing straight from the skillet to transform your salad or grain bowl into a nourishing and warm meal.
- Use this recipe as a sauce instead for tofu steaks, or pour over mashed veggie purees.
- Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Creamy Balsamic Dressing in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Serve warm or chilled. Reheat on the stovetop, adding more water as needed, or in the microwave.
Nutrition
This information is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate. Nutritional values may vary depending on factors such as product types and brands used.
🛍️ Shop Recipe Cookware and Ingredients
Note: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nisha's Favorites
Get my tried-and-true products.
Katie says
Delicious! A dup of the olive garden recipe but waaaay tastier!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Awww so happy to hear that! Thank you!!!
Primla Goddard says
So tasty ! Love the fact that it is dairy free !
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you so much.
Neena Chandiramani says
Delicious and easy to make!
Nisha Melvani, RDN says
Thank you. It's a fave!