Name: Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing (Easy!)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Cuisine: Salad Dressing
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt; 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

This apple cider vinegar dressing is quick and easy! Whisk up this tangy salad dressing with Dijon mustard and olive oil.

Looking for a standout salad dressing with everyone’s favorite vinegar? Try this Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing! Made with Dijon mustard and olive oil, it has the perfect creamy texture that doesn’t split and clings to salad greens perfectly. It’s got only a handful of ingredients and the flavor is balanced and tangy sweet. It’s one of those all-purpose types of kitchen tricks that you can use on just about anything. Add this one to your arsenal: stat!

Ingredients in apple cider vinegar dressing

Homemade salad dressing is the best kind of dressing! You get to know exactly what’s in it: no additives or preservatives here! And it’s not loaded with sodium or sugar. This apple cider vinegar dressing is the perfect way to incorporate this pantry staple into your cooking. Here’s what you’ll need:

Apple cider vinegar
Dijon mustard: a key ingredient for flavor and for making a creamy emulsion
Maple syrup: balances the tangy flavor
Ground ginger: interestingly it add just the right roundness to the flavor
Olive oil: brings it all together

How to make the perfect emulsion

One of the great things about this apple cider vinegar salad dressing is that it comes together in a perfect emulsion. When you mix olive oil and vinegar, you may notice that they can tend to separate. An emulsion is when oil and vinegar mix to become all one creamy texture.

Whisk up your emulsion the right way, and it will stay creamy: even after storing it. (Some emulsions do separate in the refrigerator: you can whisk it together prior to serving). Here’s what to know about whisking up this salad dressing:

Use a medium sized bowl. Believe it or not, size matters here! Use too small of a bowl, and the liquids won’t have enough space to be agitated with the whisk. Your best bet is a medium-sized bowl.
Add the olive oil gradually. Add it 1 tablespoon at a time, or just bit by bit, whisking after every incorporation. You’ll watch the dressing go from thin and watery to thick and creamy, all in a matter of minutes.

Storage for apple cider vinegar salad dressing

You can store homemade apple cider vinegar dressing for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Technically you could store at room temperature, but because of the Dijon mustard in the dressing we suggest refrigerating it.

Tip: Make sure to bring refrigerated dressing to room temperature before serving! The oil solidifies in the refrigerator. All you have to do is let it stand at room temperature until it’s liquid again, and then give it a few shakes before serving.

Salads that pair with apple cider vinegar dressing!

The great thing about this apple cider vinegar dressing is that it is so versatile. You can use this on literally any salad you create: which is mostly what we make on the fly over here at A Couple Cooks! If we’re entertaining though: we love a good salad recipe. So here are some ideas on throw-together and fancy green salads where this dressing would be perfect:

Romaine salad: Add it to chopped romaine with Parmesan shavings.
Spinach salad: Make our Perfect Spinach Salad or Spinach Apple Salad
Italian salad: Add it to Perfect Italian Salad or Favorite Chopped Salad
Asparagus salad: Try Asparagus Salad with Feta
Green salad with fruit: Try it on a Pomegranate Salad, Strawberry Salad or Blackberry Salad
Arugula salad: Drizzle it over Easy Arugula Salad

Pomegranate salad dressing — Here’s the dressing in action on our Pomegranate Salad

This apple cider vinegar dressing is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.