Strawberry Vinaigrette

Ligia Lugo

Published:

August 25, 2026

Last Modified:

August 25, 2026

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Juicy summer strawberries blend with rich olive oil, while a touch of cider vinegar balances tang and sweetness. This fresh strawberry vinaigrette dressing turns any greens into a refreshing summer salad.

strawberry vinaigrette is served with a fresh green salad that complements its bright pink hue

I’m always thinking up new ways to use our bounty of summer strawberries. We tend to overdo it at our annual visit to the local u-pick farm! After a few rounds of desserts like Strawberry Cobbler and Strawberry Popsicles, I start to crave something a little different.

This sweet and tangy strawberry vinaigrette hits just the right note. It uses an entire bowlful of juicy berries and its bright, refreshing flavor can turn any pile of greens into a sultry summer salad.

The key is using enough acidity. Classic vinaigrettes call for a 3:1 ratio of oil to vinegar, but this dressing uses equal parts. The extra acidity helps to balance the berries’ natural sweetness and high water content, creating a sweet-savory dressing with a thick, rich texture.

Once you see how easy it is to blend up this fresh strawberry salad dressing, your idea of a summer salad will never be the same!

Ingredient Notes

ingredients needed to make strawberry vinaigrette

Fresh strawberries – Can’t make strawberry vinaigrette without strawberries! These jewels of summer are naturally sweet, vibrantly colored, and deeply flavorful. Use strawberries that are fragrant and ruby red, as underripe berries are less juicy and can make the vinaigrette too tart. Frozen strawberries unfortunately are not a good swap here, as they seep too much water when blended.
Agave syrup – The berries are naturally sweet, yes, but I’ve found adding a secondary sweetener to this dressing actually accentuates their natural strawberry-ness. Plus, the texture of the agave syrup helps to give your dressing a bit of viscosity. Instead of agave you can also use maple syrup.
Apple cider vinegar – Adds bright, balancing acidity while enhancing the fresh strawberry flavor without overpowering it. I make this dressing with balsamic vinegar instead sometimes because I just love the combo strawberries + balsamic. The flavor is amazing, but a bit more bold than the version with cider vinegar.
Extra virgin olive oil – One of the most important dressing ingredients, olive oil takes on the role of holding all of the other ingredients together. You’ll blend it into the pureed strawberries and vinegar, creating a smooth, creamy vinaigrette with a rich mouthfeel.

This Strawberry Vinaigrette truly tastes great on all types of greens and fruit-filled salads! Here is one of my favorite, quick salads for serving it.
Toss together:

2 cups fresh spinach
1 cup arugula
1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced
¼ cup toasted peanuts or cashews
¼ cup crumbled vegan feta cheese

Drizzle the strawberry vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prep. Wash the strawberries under cool running water, then hull them to remove the green leafy top and hard white core from each berry.
Combine. Place the prepped strawberries in the bowl of a food processor or high speed blender. Drizzle in the agave syrup, apple cider vinegar, and olive oil. Lightly season with salt and black pepper for now; you’ll have the opportunity to taste and adjust the seasoning level again later.
Blend. Blend the ingredients into a smooth, creamy dressing, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to make sure the ingredients are blending evenly. Once the mixture is smooth, taste your dressing and add more salt, pepper, or agave nectar to suit your tastes. If you notice the dressing is overly thick, just stir in a tablespoon of water to loosen it up a bit. Transfer your vinaigrette to a mason jar or serving pitcher.
Enjoy! Drizzle your strawberry dressing over fresh salad greens, or for an extra-refreshing take, seal it tightly with a lid and refrigerate until well-chilled before enjoying.

How To Store

Refrigerating Store your strawberry vinaigrette in an airtight container (I love using mason or jam jars for dressings!) in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You’ll need to shake or whisk the dressing just before serving, as the ingredients may settle during storage.