A Bright Homemade Dressing Using Pantry Staples
If you’ve never made homemade vinaigrette with jam before, this strawberry jam vinaigrette is the perfect place to start.
It’s bright, fruity, lightly sweet, and comes together in just a few minutes using simple pantry ingredients. The strawberry jam gives the dressing body and flavor, while Dijon mustard helps everything emulsify into a smooth, creamy vinaigrette without needing any bottled stabilizers or preservatives.
This is one of those dressings that tastes like something you’d get at a little café or restaurant, but it’s incredibly easy to make at home.
And honestly, this recipe is flexible. You can completely change the personality of the dressing just by switching the vinegar.
Why Use Jam in a Vinaigrette?
Using jam in a vinaigrette does a few things at once.
First, it adds sweetness and concentrated fruit flavor without needing fresh berries. That makes this recipe easy to make year-round, even when strawberries are out of season.
It also helps balance the acidity of the vinegar, especially if you prefer a brighter, tangier vinaigrette with less oil.
Traditional vinaigrettes are often made with a 3:1 oil-to-vinegar ratio, but for fruit vinaigrettes like this one, I personally prefer closer to a 2:1 ratio. It keeps the dressing lighter and allows the strawberry flavor to actually shine instead of getting buried under too much oil.
Choosing Your Vinegar
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how customizable it is depending on the vinegar you use.
Apple cider vinegar gives the dressing a classic fruity tang and works beautifully with spinach salads and nuts.
White wine vinegar creates a lighter, cleaner flavor that feels very fresh and summery.
Red wine vinegar gives the vinaigrette a slightly deeper, bolder flavor that pairs especially well with grilled chicken or stronger greens like arugula.
Rice wine vinegar creates a softer, more delicate dressing that lets the strawberry flavor stay front and center.
If you like experimenting with homemade dressings, this is the kind of recipe you can make several different ways without ever getting bored of it.
The Best Way to Emulsify It
A food processor works especially well for this recipe because it fully blends the jam, shallot, garlic, and Dijon mustard into the vinegar before the oil is added.
Once the base is smooth, slowly drizzle in the oil with the motor running. That gradual addition helps create a thick, silky vinaigrette that stays emulsified longer.
You can also use an immersion blender in a wide-mouth jar if you prefer easier cleanup.
What to Serve With Strawberry Jam Vinaigrette
This dressing pairs beautifully with:
- spinach
- arugula
- mixed greens
- goat cheese
- feta
- pecans
- walnuts
- grilled chicken
- strawberries
- blueberries
- crispy prosciutto
- bacon
- fresh basil or mint
It also works really well drizzled over grain bowls or used as a marinade for grilled chicken.
Strawberry Jam Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup strawberry jam
- 3 tbsp vinegar of choice, see notes below for flavor options
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1-2 tbsp finely diced shallot
- 1 smashed clove of garlic
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1/8 tsp white pepper
- 2 tsp pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup avocado oil
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients except the oil to a food processor. Pulse a few times to blend everything well and break up the jam and shallot.With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the oil until the dressing is smooth and fully emulsified.Taste and adjust as needed. Add another splash of vinegar for more brightness or additional salt to balance the flavors.
Notes
Vinegar Options
- Apple cider vinegar gives a classic fruity tang.White wine vinegar creates a lighter, cleaner flavor.Red wine vinegar gives the dressing a deeper, slightly bolder flavor.Rice wine vinegar creates a softer, more delicate vinaigrette.
Additional Notes
- Avocado oil keeps the flavor lighter and lets the strawberry shine.Extra virgin olive oil creates a richer, more robust vinaigrette.A food processor gives the smoothest texture, especially if your strawberry jam contains fruit pieces.