Maple Dijon Dressing

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Inside: Why Dijon mustard is effective for emulsifying salad dressings and adding a tangy, piquant flavor to balance the sweetness in this maple vinaigrette.

Maple Dijon Dressing is a quick and easy salad dressing recipe that’s delicious on salads all year long. With a soft maple flavor and two types of Dijon mustard, this simple maple mustard dressing brings tons of flavor for very little effort.

You may think I’m crazy, but I never buy bottled salad dressings. I make them from scratch. That may sound very “Martha Stewart” to you, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. Most salad dressing recipe take less than 5 minutes to make and they’re infinitely better than anything you can buy at the market (even better than those “gourmet” dressings).

Don’t believe me? Just try the vibrancy of this Simple Lemon Vinaigrette, or the creamy richness of my Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing. You’ll love my Kale Salad Dressing to dress up curly or Tuscan kale leaves and this Creamy Black Garlic Vinaigrette has such a depth of umami-flavor, you’ll be amazed.

This Maple Dijon Dressing recipe is unique. It’s sweet, tangy and lush, goes great on any lettuce or greens and pairs well with fruits like apples, pears and citrus. It’s my go-to vinaigrette for holiday first-course salads to start a larger meal.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

You can make it in 5 minutes.
The recipe is enough to dress one or two large salads.
It keeps well in the refrigerator.
It’s tastier than the fancy store-bought “chef” salad dressings because it’s fresher and homemade.
There’s nothing artificial and no preservatives.
It’s a foolproof recipe and you can double or triple it for a big batch of dressing.

Ingredients:

Shallot–tastes like a cross between onion and garlic with a sharp aroma. This balances the vinaigrette.
Sweet Maple Syrup–use a good quality all natural maple syrup, not maple-flavored syrup.
Dijon Mustard–this smooth French-style mustard has a touch of white wine, which softens the flavor and adds complexity.
Whole Grain Dijon Mustard–has the same flavor profile as regular Dijon, but with the textural aspect of whole mustard seed. You can find this with the other mustards, though sometimes it’s called Pommery mustard.
Kosher Salt–I recommend Diamond Crystal kosher salt which is less salty by volume than Morton’s. If you have Morton’s, use about ¼ teaspoon of salt.
Freshly Ground Black Pepper–grinding it in a pepper mill adds a fresher flavor. Pre-ground pepper loses its potency over time.
Apple Cider Vinegar–acts as the acid in the maple vinaigrette. I find the sharpness pairs well with the maple syrup.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil–I use my everyday evoo; there is no need for fancy finishing oils.

Step-by-step instructions:

Mince and measure the ingredients for the maple vinaigrette.

Combining the mustard, maple and seasonings.

2. In a small bowl, add the shallots, maple syrup, the Dijon and Pommery mustards, kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine.

3. Stir in the apple cider vinegar and whisk to combine.

4. Drizzle in the olive oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly.

5. Whisk the maple salad dressing until it’s creamy and emulsified.

Pro-Tips:

Adding the olive oil a little at a time and constantly whisking will help the dressing emulsify quicker.
You can also add the ingredients to a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake until the ingredients are blended.

Swaps and Variations:

Swap champagne vinegar, red or white wine vinegar in place of the apple cider vinegar. You can even use Balsamic vinegar, but avoid herb-flavored ones.
Use maple dressing as a light sauce to season steamed or sauteed vegetables.

The ingredients for the maple vinaigrette.

FAQs

What’s the difference between vinaigrette and dressing?

Dressing is a broad term for all salad dressings, which includes vinaigrettes. A vinaigrette is typically some combination of oil and vinegar or another acidic ingredient like vinegar or citrus with other seasonings.

Does the maple syrup make the dressing sweet?

You can taste the maple, but the sweetness doesn’t dominate the dressing, thanks to the apple cider vinegar. It has a sweetness, but it’s balanced by the other bold, tangy ingredients.

Can I use plain yellow mustard?

No. I would avoid yellow mustard for this recipe.

Make-ahead:

You can make this dressing up to one week ahead of time.

Storage:

Store the maple mustard dressing in an airtight container or sealed mason jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Shake or whisk maple dijon vinaigrette to re-emulsify the ingredients before using.

More salad dressing recipes you’ll love:

Maple Dijon dressing in a glass pitcher.

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