Creamy Peach Vinaigrette Dressing for Summer Salads
This peach vinaigrette is a light, fruity salad dressing that is perfect for summer. It is made with fresh ripe peach, peach cider vinegar, olive oil, and simple seasonings. Being a versatile flavoring sauce this creamy peach salad dressing can be used on green salads, grain bowls, or even grilled chicken or fish. Give it a try either using fresh peaches or cooked peaches, it tastes amazing!
What Is Peach Vinaigrette?
Peach vinaigrette is a fruity salad dressing made with peaches, vinegar, oil, and simple seasonings. It can be blended smooth and creamy or whisked thinner like a classic vinaigrette. In this version, cider vinegar adds extra brightness, while the fresh peach gives the dressing natural sweetness and body.
If you like fruit based dressings and sauce make sure to check my mango sauce as well.
How To Make This Peach Vinaigrette
To make a peach vinaigrette, you have two options. You either make the salad dressing with fresh peach or cooked peach (caramelized). I chose to make the peach dressing with cooked fruit as it will prolong it’s shelf life and help intensify its flavor and sweetness.
Related: 7 Creamy Gluten Free Dairy Free Salad Dressings (Vegan)
Related recipe: Healthy Honey Mustard Without Mayo & Dairy
Step 1. Prepare the peach
For relatively smaller portion, lets say about 1⅓ cup of dressing you’ll need about 1 large peach. The riper the sweeter it will be.
- To cook and caramelize the peach, heat a small skillet over medium heat and add a splash of water (about 2 tablespoons), throw in the sliced peach.
- Observe when the water is almost evaporated and add the maple syrup, let it cook until the liquid caramelizes around the peaches, stirring occasionally. About 4-5 minutes until reduced.
- If you decide to make the peach vinaigrette with fresh peach, you just peel and core it and add with the rest of ingredients when blending.
Let the cooked peach cool completely before adding to the rest of ingredients.
Step 2. Combine and blend the ingredients
- Simply combine all of the remaining ingredients (oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt and pepper) in a blender and blend until smooth. I used this small blender cup of my Beast blender, it’s perfect for blending small portions.
- If you don’t want an intense garlic flavor, just smash the cloves and let them infuse in the olive oil for 15 minutes prior to making the peach salad dressing. Then discard the cloves.
- Transfer to a jar or small container and keep refrigerated up to a week. If you’re making your peach vinaigrette recipe with fresh peach, try to consume it within 3 days. It will spoil faster.
Related recipe: Smoky Honey Mustard Sauce
Vinegar Substitutions
A peach salad dressing can be made by substituting the peach cider vinegar for other vinegars like apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar or even fresh lemon juice.
White balsamic keeps the color lighter and the flavor fruitier, while regular balsamic makes the dressing deeper and slightly richer.
How Long Does Peach Vinaigrette Last?
Store peach vinaigrette in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for about 4-7 days. Shake or stir before using, because natural separation is normal.
Tip To Adjust Consistency
For a creamier peach salad dressing, I added Dijon mustard, it helps with emulsifying and prevents the ingredients from separating during storage. Some Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, a thick dairy free yogurt or tahini – will provide the same effect. For a thinner vinaigrette, add more vinegar or water.
What to Serve with Peach Vinaigrette
- mixed greens
- arugula salad
- peach and tomato salad
- grilled chicken salad like this cobb salad
- quinoa or rice bowls
- radish cucumber salad
- cabbage and carrot slaw
- roasted vegetables
- chicken salad with avocado cranberries walnuts
- shrimp cabbage salad
- watermelon radish salad
FAQ
Yes. Use apple cider vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar, or lemon juice. Peach cider vinegar gives the strongest peach flavor, but the dressing still works with other mild vinegars.
Fresh ripe peaches taste best, but thawed frozen peaches can work. Canned peaches may be too sweet unless packed in juice, not syrup.
Yes, this peach vinaigrette can be made dairy-free because it uses fruit, vinegar, oil, and seasonings instead of cream or dairy.
It works well with leafy greens, arugula, cucumber, tomato, grilled chicken, quinoa, cabbage slaw, nuts, seeds, and summer fruit salads.
Blend the dressing until smooth and use a ripe peach. For extra creaminess, add a small spoon of dairy-free yogurt, tahini, or soaked cashews if desired.
Yes. Replace some or all of the peach cider vinegar with white balsamic or regular balsamic vinegar.
Related: Peach Crumble With Oats (Crisp)
Peach Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 large peach - peeled and cored / cooked
- 7 tbsp olive oil - or avocado oil
- 4 tbsp vinegar - peach cider, apple cider, balsamic or lemon juice
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 2 tbsp maple syrup - or honey
- 2 garlic cloves
- ⅓ tsp sea salt
- ⅓ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Step 1. Prepare the peach:
- To cook and caramelize the peach, heat a small skillet over medium heat and add a splash of water (about 2 tablespoons), throw in the sliced peach.
- Observe when the water is almost evaporated and add the maple syrup, let it cook until the liquid caramelizes around the peaches, stirring occasionally. About 4-5 minutes until reduced.
- Let the cooked peach cool completely before adding to the rest of ingredients.
- If you decide to make the peach vinaigrette with fresh peach, you just peel and core it and add with the rest of ingredients when blending.
Step 2. Combine and blend the ingredients:
- Simply combine all of the remaining ingredients (oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt and pepper) in a blender and blend until smooth. I used this small blender cup of my Beast blender, it’s perfect for blending small portions.
- If you don’t want an intense garlic flavor, just smash the cloves and let them infuse in the olive oil for 15 minutes prior to making the peach salad dressing. Then discard the cloves.
- Transfer to a jar or small container and keep refrigerated up to a week. If you’re making your peach vinaigrette recipe with fresh peach, try to consume it within 3 days. It will spoil faster.
What You Need
Notes
Dressing Storage Time
- Fresh peach: 3 days
- Cooked peach: 7 days
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
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Have ever canned this to have on shelf?
Never tried, I like my dressings fresh.
I made this today with fresh peaches! So yummy, thank you for sharing!
Could pears works instead of peaches?
Technically yes, but the texture would be different.
Love it , so creamy!
Could frozen peaches also work for this recipe?
Yes, although the flavor might not be noticeable.