This versatile ACV dressing recipe should definitely be in your back pocket! It takes just five minutes to make and needs only three ingredients which are probably already in your pantry. 🙂
I'm pretty sure this homemade apple cider vinaigrette is my favorite easy salad dressing recipe. It goes great over a simple green salad alongside a quick dinner like this walnut and herb crusted chicken dish, or over a quick salad and lentil soup for lunch. I also love it as a dipping sauce for freshly chopped veggies like carrot sticks, radishes, bell peppers, etc.
I also happen to love apple cider vinegar (or ACV for short) because it's a fermented food! And using apple cider vinegar as a salad dressing is such a delicious way to add more fermented foods into your day to day meals.
Did you know?
Apple cider vinegar is made from the juice of crushed apples which then goes through a 2-step fermentation process that takes a few months to complete. First, a colony of yeast and bacteria begin the process and produce alcohol, and next, specialized bacteria in the ferment convert the alcohol into the delicious and wholesome vinegar we know as ACV.
Oh and if you're looking for other easy and zesty salad dressings, you should definitely try this easy homemade Greek dressing, this Niçoise salad dressing or this delicious Asian sesame dressing.
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🌿 Ingredients
The ingredients for this ACV dressing recipe couldn't be any easier: just apple cider vinegar, olive oil and Italian seasoning. If you don't already have them in your pantry, they are definitely recommended staples to have on hand. All three should be readily available at any grocery store.
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
To make this salad dressing, simply place all of the ingredients in a pint-sized Mason jar, cover the jar tightly and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
If you don't have a Mason jar, no worries! You can use any jar or salad dressing container you have on hand, as long as it can hold at least two cups of liquid and has a tight-fitting lid.
Pro tip: Shake your dressing just before serving and before each use, as the ingredients will separate in between uses.
📋 Substitutions
This apple cider vinegar dressing with olive oil is naturally vegan and gluten free. Feel free to make any of the following substitutions as needed:
- Apple cider vinegar - substitute red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or champagne vinegar if your don't have any apple cider vinegar on hand (but use a 1:2 vinegar to oil ratio in this case since these vinegars can be overpowering); you can also substitute fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar, if desired
- Olive oil - avocado oil also works great, or substitute canola oil if you don't have either on hand
- Italian seasoning - if you don't have this exact spice mix on hand, use any of the following herbs in any combination: basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary or marjoram
📖 Variations
Want to mix things up a little? Here are two delicious variations on this ACV dressing:
- Creamy apple cider vinaigrette - add a little mayonnaise, and a dash of Dijon mustard if desired
- Honey apple cider vinegar salad dressing - add a tablespoon or more of honey or maple syrup to the dressing to taste (hint: this makes it super kid-friendly!)
🔪 Equipment
The only item you'll need for this recipe is a good jar or container with a tight-fitting lid to shake and store the dressing in. If you don't have a Mason jar, just use any other lidded jar that can hold at least two cups of liquid.
🍱 Storage
This apple cider vinegar dressing can be stored at room temperature for up to a week, or in the fridge for up to at least two weeks.
Note that if you will be refrigerating it, the olive oil will become solid as it cools. To reincorporate the oil, let the dressing sit out at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Once the oil warms up a little, give it a good shake just before using.
🎉 Top tip
Don't be afraid to try different variations on this recipe, using fresh herbs instead of dried, or adding a little Dijon mustard or honey. They're all super delicious and you can't go wrong with any of them. 🙂
💭 FAQ
A 1 to 1 ratio of oil to vinegar is a good rule of thumb in an ACV dressing recipe.
Olive oil works particularly well in salad dressing with apple cider vinegar. Alternatively, avocado oil or canola oil also work fine.
Yes; you can add a little honey or maple syrup to apple cider vinegar dressing to taste.
You can season apple cider vinaigrette with garlic, Dijon mustard, oregano, basil, thyme, lemon juice, salt and pepper, or a combination of any of these ingredients.
🍳 Recipe
Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
Equipment
- Mason jar or other container with lid
Ingredients
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Combine: Place all of the ingredients in a pint-sized Mason jar or other jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Shake: Cover the jar tightly with the lid and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Enjoy: Shake again just before serving, and before each use (see notes).
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