Pesto Vinaigrette Recipe
Published September 10, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
This tasty 3-ingredient pesto vinaigrette recipe comes together in minutes and is an amazing dressing to serve with your next salad. You will be blown away at how flavorful this vinaigrette is.
Salad dressing just makes the salad that much better, especially if it’s got a bunch of herbs and cheese in it. If you’re looking to up your salad game, then definitely try out my Italian Dressing or Ranch Dressing.
Pesto Vinaigrette
Pesto Vinaigrette is an easy-to-prepared dressing consisting of pre-made pesto that is emulsified with vinegar and oil to enhance its flavors and thin it out so that it can easily coat salad greens. It’s best to use fresh homemade pesto when making this vinaigrette.
You can create and alter the flavors by swapping out the basil with things like cilantro or kale. If you are a fan of pesto, then you will definitely like this full-flavored vinaigrette.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Pesto – You will need to make pesto ahead of time or purchase pre-made.
- Vinegar – I prefer to use white wine or distilled vinegar for this.
- Oil – Olive oil is best to use because that is the main oil already in the pesto. However, you can use avocado oil or any neutral-flavored oil.
How to Make Pesto Vinaigrette from Scratch
Add the pesto and vinegar together in a medium-sized bowl.
Slowly whisk in the oil until the dressing becomes emulsified.
Store or serve the pesto vinaigrette.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: For freshness, you can make this Pesto Vinaigrette up to 3 days ahead. You can serve this immediately, but more flavors will come out with time. In addition, let it sit at room temperature before serving it.
How to Store: Place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. This will not freeze.
Chef Notes + Tips
- Make this recipe in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment for the ultimate emulsified dressing.
- Emulsify is just a fancy culinary term to combine two things that generally wouldn’t go together, like oil and vinegar.
More Dressing Recipes
Pesto Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pesto
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- coarse salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add the pesto and vinegar together in a medium-sized bowl.
- Slowly whisk in the oil until the dressing becomes emulsified.
- Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
- Store or serve the pesto vinaigrette.
Very nice vinaigrette recipe. Chef, I know you didn’t go through this much trouble without making your own Pesto sauce, that’s just not who you are. I grown Basil myself and it is so easy to make anyway. and this is a lovely recipe, goes with a lot of different foods Thank you Chef for another great recipe.
Simple and effective !
Can you send me the pesto recipe I have an abundance of basil. Can you send me it in messenger please.
click it in the recipe card and it will take you to it.