Maple Dijon Vinaigrette (Easy Vegan Recipe)

Homemade Maple Dijon Vinaigrette is tangy, sweet, and next-level delicious! This vegan salad dressing is ready within minutes and gives a zesty kick to your salads and veggies.  

Once you start making your own dressing, you will never go back to buying it at the store. 1) Because it is 1000 times tastier, but 2) it is so easy to do! It instantly elevates any salad.

Use this vinaigrette to make a nourishing and hearty vegan fall harvest salad with baked apple chips, pepitas, and roasted tofu. It will take you to your happy place, guaranteed!

If you love this vinaigrette, then you are for sure going to enjoy maple Dijon roasted carrots and apples as well as Brussels sprouts and carrots!

Customize your dressing to the exact level of thickness you want, whether it be for a salad, marinade, or dip. It’s so fun adding a twist to a recipe, making it your own. 

What's even better is that if you only want a little bit… scale the recipe down!

Or are you about to have a big holiday dinner party with the entire family… double, triple, quadruple this recipe until you have enough for a feast!

Okay, maybe I’m getting a little too excited. This is just a salad dressing we’re talking about. But once you make it yourself and have that first taste, you will know what I mean!

Ingredients

You will need these simple ingredients to make maple Dijon vinaigrette:

• Maple Syrup adds natural sweetness to the vinaigrette to balance the acidity of the vinegar and the sharpness of the Dijon.
  • Agave nectar can be used instead to replicate more of a "honey" Dijon-flavored dressing.
• Dijon Mustard is both a flavor enhancer and the emulsifying agent in this vinaigrette. It provides a tangy, slightly spicy kick to the dressing while creating a creamy texture.
  • Stone-ground Dijon mustard can be used but will result in a dressing with a grainier texture (which is still very delicious!)
• Olive Oil provides richness and smoothness to the dressing. It completes the emulsification for this dressing and cannot be left out!
  • Another oil, like avocado or canola oil, could be swapped if needed.
• Apple Cider Vinegar adds acidity and tang to the vinaigrette, complementing the Dijon's sharpness.
  • Lemon juice can also be used and gives more of a lemony note to the dressing.
• Sea Salt, Black Pepper, and Garlic Powder enhance the overall taste of the dressing to give it the best flavor.

Directions with Pictures

Making maple Dijon vinaigrette couldn't be easier! Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Place maple syrup, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small mixing bowl.
2. Whisk until a smooth dressing forms.
3. Add olive oil and whisk for 1 to 2 minutes until the oil emulsifies.
4. Drizzle over a fall harvest salad for a hearty meal, and enjoy!

Variations

Customizing your homemade maple Dijon dressing is as simple as changing up the ratio or swapping out some ingredients. Here are a few ideas:

• Lower the amount of oil - Use half the amount of oil and leave out the apple cider vinegar to make a marinade and roast veggies, tofu, or chickpeas!
• Make it lemony - Use 2 tablespoons of lemon juice instead of 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. This gives the dressing a very enjoyable zesty kick!
• Take it to the sweeter side - If you’re looking for a sweeter dressing, lower the Dijon to 1 tablespoon and up the maple syrup to 3 tablespoons.
• Get herby - Add some fresh thyme, basil, parsley, and tarragon for an herbaceous note.
• Play with texture - Use stone ground dijon for a little burst of flavor with a rustic, grainy feel.

Ways to Use

Maple Dijon vinaigrette can be used in a variety of ways to enhance the taste of your dishes. Here are some ideas:

• Salad Dressing - This is, of course, the obvious choice! Make a delicious vegan fall harvest salad with spinach, roasted veggies, tofu, baked apple chips, popped quinoa, and pepitas, and drizzle with this vinaigrette for an explosion of flavor!
• Roasted Vegetables - Use when roasting vegetables like in maple Dijon roasted carrots and apples or on Brussels sprouts. The vinaigrette caramelizes the veggies and creates a delectable glaze.
• Roasted Nuts or Seeds - Coat a mixture of nuts or seeds with maple Dijon vinaigrette, and then roast them in the oven until they are golden and crispy for a sweet snack or appetizer.
• Wraps - Use this dressing to boost the flavor of wraps using vegan flour tortillas. 
• Marinade - Use this to marinade tofu or tempeh, infusing them with flavor!

FAQ