Description
A silky, vibrant vinaigrette made with fresh ripe peach or peach purée, honey, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil blended together into a beautifully emulsified dressing that is sweet, tangy, and deeply flavorful. Ready in 5 minutes and versatile enough to use as a salad dressing, marinade, or finishing drizzle.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe peach, peeled and diced (or ½ cup peach purée)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder, optional
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, optional
Instructions
- If using a fresh peach, peel and dice it roughly — no need for precision since it will be blended completely.
- Add the diced peach or peach purée, honey, Dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder and thyme if using to a blender or the cup of an immersion blender.
- Blend on medium speed for 30–45 seconds until the peach is completely smooth and the ingredients are fully combined.
- With the blender running on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil in a thin, steady stream. This gradual addition emulsifies the dressing into a smooth, cohesive vinaigrette rather than a separated oil-and-vinegar mixture.
- Taste and adjust — more honey for sweetness, more balsamic for tang, or a pinch more salt as needed.
- Transfer to a sealed jar and refrigerate until ready to use. Shake well before each use as the dressing will separate slightly on standing.
Notes
- Adding the olive oil slowly while the blender is running is what creates the emulsification — pouring it all in at once produces a separated dressing that never fully comes together.
- Use the ripest, sweetest peach you can find — the peach is the primary flavor and a flavorless out-of-season peach will produce a noticeably inferior dressing.
- For a vegan version, replace the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar at the same quantity — the dressing is equally delicious with either sweetener.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes