Hands down one of the most popular creations here - my simple Basil Vinaigrette Recipe. Not even exaggerating, it's the best vinaigrette in the world and it's going to make your recipes THAT much better! The versatility is epic. Its perfect for a Loaded Salad, to this delicious summer Tomato Basil Pasta, and so many amazing fish recipes such as this grilled salmon.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
I’m all about taking a shortcut in the kitchen every now and then – and that is exactly what this Basil Vinaigrette allows me to do! It’s my go-to basil salad dressing (and has been since I first posted it in 2014) for all of my favorite summer meals and you’ll be seeing it make an appearance in a few recipes over the next several weeks as I try to stretch out this California summer until November 🙂
I whip up a batch of Basil Vinaigrette every few days and keep it on hand for anytime I’m in a pinch and need to eat something STAT. It goes beautifully on a salad, on top of come cooked vegetables, mixed into a pasta or rice, topped on some chicken, steak or fish... you get the idea. It literally works with everything. It can very easily brighten up, or just be a great change for your go-to recipes, like an alternate dressing for the whole roasted cauliflower.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Shallot
- Basil
- Garlic
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Salt & Pepper
*See recipe card for all specifics and alterations.
How to Make Basil Vinaigrette
Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a high powered blender.
Step 2: Blend for 60 seconds until very smooth.
Step 3: Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Step 4: Serve immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
Tips & Tricks
A few things to keep in mind as you make the worlds most perfect basil vinaigrette recipe:
- Look for a small shallot. You don't want a HUGE shallot as that will affect how the end result tastes. If you can only find a large one, just use 1-2 tablespoons worth of chopped shallot.
- Use a decent quality olive oil. Something that you could use as a salad dressing. If you use something that's too flavored etc, that will affect the taste of the vinaigrette
- Season to taste!! Always! So important to try the sauce and then adjust salt as needed.
- Feel free to add other herbs as you please. Cilantro mixed with basil is excellent. Chives are amazing mixed in too!
- If you love this recipe as much as me - try making the cilantro vinaigrette version too!
Recipe FAQs
What is basil vinaigrette made of?
This Basil Vinaigrette recipe is made of fresh basil, a small shallot, garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt! You can add a few cracks of black pepper too if you prefer!
What is the formula for vinaigrette dressing?
The basic formula is 2 parts oil to 1 part of vinegar plus all the add ins like shallot, garlic, salt and pepper. This recipe has just a touch less vinegar than normal but feel free to up it per your taste preference.
Favorite Recipes to use with Basil Vin
AND - you guys asked for it on Insta live recently. Here are a billion additional ideas on how to use this basil vinaigrette recipe:
- Cheesy Monkey Bread
- Basil Parmesan Grilled Corn
- Loaded Power Salad
- Chicken Shish Kebabs
- Melon Caprese Skewers
- Sweet Corn and Basil Pizza
- Goat Cheese and Roasted Beet Salad
- Three Cheese Stromboli
- Burrata Tomato Salad
- Three Cheese Pizza
- Polenta Bar
- Grilled Salmon Skewers
- Roasted Spaghetti Squash
- BLT Bar
- Green Monster Salad
- Charred Tomato Pesto Pizza
- Spring Pea Pizza
- Basil Vinaigrette Pasta
- Summer Turkey Meatballs - the recipe itself doesn't call for the basil vinaigrette recipe but I tried it on it over the week and OMG IT IS EVERYTHING
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Simple Basil Vinaigrette
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 small shallot roughly chopped (about 2-3 tablespoons)
- 2 cups tightly packed fresh basil leaves stems removed (about 4 ounces)
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoons red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the basil vinaigrette in a high powered blender and blend for 60 seconds until very smooth.
- Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately. Or you can refrigerate the vinaigrette for up to 3-5 days.
Notes
- Store for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Feel free to mix in some other herbs if you want! Basil combined with cilantro and chives are excellent. Parsley is another great addition if you want things a bit more earthy.
- This freezes beautifully! Portion it out into a ice cube tray and freeze. Then when you are ready to use, pop out a cube and let come to room temperature and use as needed.
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz // Food Styling by Adam Pearson // Recipe by What's Gaby Cooking
How delicious!! Had it on my salad and the leftovers on pasta! My new favorite. Thank you for creating a wonderful dressing.
This is amazing just as I had it in Venice on a salad. I love Basil but this is just perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Delicious and so versatile!
Love this vinaigrette! I make extra and freeze in ice cube trays, then defrost as needed. Fabulous on anything grilled. It's a fan favorite!
Amazing! I didn't plant enough basil.
I was a little haphazard and eyeballed the amounts but it was still perfect. I'll use this again and again. Thank you for posting.
This looks super fresh and healthy. I’m glad I found your 404 webpage not found!
P.S. Love that blue plate and glass jar. Where to find??
This is my go to salad dressing in summer when my Basil is in season. I always have a jar in the fridge and use it on everything! Great high payoff, low effort recipe.
Good use of basil. 1 tsp of salt to start is a bit too much for me.
SOOO good! Love this recipe—used it as a dressing tossed with arugula and as a condiment for grilled pork chops. I added cilantro & chives, as Gaby suggests plus fresh lime juice. Yummm-this is a great way to use up loads of fresh garden basil. Will be making this on repeat!
Thank you Gaby! Your enthusiasm for this recipe convinced me to make it. And it is DELISH! I cut a few chives to add to the basil and it turned out so tasty. It's now on my permanent rotation!
Divine recipe used it on many things besides a basic basil salad dressing. Doubled recipe as that is worth the effort and gave some as a gift in a pretty small ball jar. Added 2 juiced lemons plus 1/2 cup more olive oil when recipe was doubled. That might've kept the color bright green. Delicious!!
All my guests wanted the recipe. Enough to ask for it the next day!
Drizzled over mozzarella and Hanover (Va) tomatoes.
This was SO good. I am forever buying basil at the store and only using part of the bunch and then end up throwing the rest away (which drives me crazy). I googled what to do with too much fresh basil and this came up. Had it with tomatoes, avocado and feta as a lunch salad with some fresh bread to sop up the excess (wonderfully puckery tart) vinaigrette.
Definitely a keeper!
So glad I finally got around to making this today. I could totally eat it with a spoon. Using it to make pasta salad tomorrow.
I don't have a "high powered blender" but my $40 immersion blender worked just fine. (My dressing came out looking just like the picture)