Pesto Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe
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This Balsamic Pesto Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe Is:
- Bright
- Fresh
- Herby
- Sweet
- Garlicky
- Satisfying
- Vegan, Gluten Free, and Dairy Free
A No-Cook Pesto Recipe That’s Perfect for Summer
This no-cook pesto salad dressing with balsamic vinegar is a quick and simple recipe. I love a good no-cook recipe for those days when I’m not feeling like standing around the stove, or for summer nights when it’s too hot to cook. I have a whole collection of recipes that require zero cooking at all, check them out here!
This sauce comes together in about 5 minutes, and only requires a blender or food processor to make. Just use a few pantry staple ingredients and you have a tasty meal ready in no time. And very little to clean up afterwards… an added bonus!
What’s In This Pesto Vinaigrette Dressing?
Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!
- Fresh Basil
- Kale
- Balsamic Vinegar: I like using aged balsamic because it has a really great flavor
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat in this sauce!
- Garlic
- Walnuts
- Sea salt and black pepper
Growing Fresh Herbs at Home
We love growing fresh basil for this pesto in our garden in the summer. But when we want fresh herbs during the winter months, we bring the growing indoors!
We got this great countertop Aerogarden which is fantastic for growing herbs in the winter. We actually got it when we lived in a smaller apartment, but even now that we own an acreage we still use it year-round!
I love growing herbs on my countertop like fresh basil, dill, mint, sage, thyme, parsley, and lemon balm – perfect for this cucumber salad. It uses LED lights and water, so no messy soil needed – you can have fresh herbs at your fingertips any time.
I love picking a few springs of parsley to chop on pastas, adding basil leaves to soups, and tossing some dill in with my pasta salads. It also makes a great gift for anyone who would like fresh herbs… no big kitchen or green thumb required!
How Do I Make This Pesto with Balsamic Vinegar?
- In a food processor or blender, add all ingredients and pulse on low to combine pesto until it forms a thick paste. If the pesto becomes too thick, add an additional tablespoon more olive oil to loosen it up. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt if needed.
- Enjoy pesto tossed into pasta, on pizzas, or spread thick on garlic bread!
Dietary Modifications
- This recipe is vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free!
- To make this pesto nut free, substitute out the walnuts for pumpkin seeds.
- To make this recipe oil free, you can use water in place of the oil… however, it will have a different texture.
Serve this Balsamic Pesto Sauce With:
Spring Minestrone with Pesto Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)
Pesto Chickpea Salad Sandwich Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)
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If you made this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Pesto Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
Equipment
- Blender or Food Processor
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh basil
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, add all ingredients and pulse on low to combine pesto until it forms a thick dressing. If the pesto becomes too thick, add an additional tablespoon of olive oil to loosen it up. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt if needed.
- Enjoy pesto tossed into pasta, on pizzas, or spread thick on garlic bread!
Nutrition
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Love my salads and love to try new dressings like this one