Fresh Cherry Vinaigrette for Summer Salads

Cherry vinaigrette is a simple, fresh fruit dressing that’s both tart and sweet, perfect for drizzling over summer salads or using as a marinade. The vinegar’s acidity balances the richness of the cherries, while honey enhances their natural sweetness. Blended with oil and seasonings, it creates a bright, flavorful dressing that’s easy to make and customize to your taste.

More cherry recipes

• Cherry and Cream Float
• Cherry Slab Pie
• Dark Cholate and Dried Cherry Cookies
• Simple Roasted Cherries

Ingredients

• Fresh Cherries- I prefer sweet cherries for this dressing. You can also use tart cherries, but you just might need to sweeten the dressing a little more.
  You'll need to use pitted cherries for this recipe. If you have a cherry pitter, use it. If not, cut the cherries in half, twist them, and take out the pit.
  Just be sure to use fresh cherries for this cherry vinaigrette recipe, not canned. 
• Olive Oil- This is not cooked, so use a good quality olive oil, if you have it.
• Vinegar- I like using a red wine vinegar, but white balsamic is also delicious.
• Dijon Mustard- You use this not only for the flavor it adds but also to work as an emulsifier. What that means is it helps the olive oil and vinegar to blend together easily instead of separating.
• Honey- You really can use any sweetener you like, but I prefer honey! 
• Salt- It won't take much, but you will need this. Salt helps bring out natural flavor and cuts through the sweetness to leave you with a delicious cherry flavor.

How To Make Cherry Vinaigrette

When I said this cherry vinaigrette was easy to make, I meant it was really easy. It's bursting with summer flavor and hardly takes any time to prepare. 

1. First, you'll need to prep the cherries, this is the hardest part. You'll want to rinse the cherries, then pit them. You can do this manually with a knife or use a cherry pitter. 
2. Add the cherries to a food processor. Then, add the remaining ingredients.
3. Blend on high until the cherry vinaigrette is smooth and the cherries are broken up. This might take 1-2 minutes.
4. Once it is done, taste it. Adjust your salt and honey as needed. Everyone has different preferences when it comes to dressing. Maybe you like it a little more salty, or a little sweeter. 

If I use tart cherries, how much will I need to increase my honey?

This depends on your taste. I only increase it by about 1-2 tablespoons if I'm not using sweet cherries. The best thing to do is taste it as you go, letting it sit for a few minutes before deciding whether or not to stir in more honey.

My blueberry vinaigrette is another delicious fresh fruit dressing that you will love. My honey mustard vinaigrette is also really tasty if you are looking for more options as well.

• Salads