Maple dijon dressing

What You’ll Need

Just a few simple ingredients combine to make one heckuva delicious salad dressing! Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for exact ingredient amounts.

• Oil – Feel free to use your favorite neutral flavored oil.
• Maple syrup – Be sure to use 100% maple syrup (not a pancake syrup with other ingredients). You could substitute with honey if you like.
• Dijon mustard – This mustard has an earthy, sharp flavor. I love to incorporate it in my homemade dressings. Stone-ground mustard would also be good here.
• Red wine vinegar – Its tangy fruitiness is so lovely in this dressing. You could also try apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar – just know that the flavor profile will be different (but still delicious!).
• Shallot – This adds a layer of earthy, freshness, with onion-garlic flavor.
• Curry powder – My secret ingredient that adds the best pop of flavor and aroma! This recipe calls for a very small amount of this beautiful spice blend. And it adds BIG flavor!
• Salt & pepper – Simple seasonings bring it altogether.

How to Make Maple Dijon Salad Dressing

When it comes to homemade salad dressing recipes, it doesn’t get any easier than this. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.

• Combine. Add all the ingredients to a jar or bowl. Use an immersion blender to process until it’s smooth and emulsified, where the oil is completely combined.

Tips for Success

Bacon fat and aromatic rosemary can pack this tangy maple Dijon dressing with new levels of flavor and depth!

• Adjust the sweetness. Use a little less or a little more of the maple syrup.
• Make it spicy. Add in some cayenne pepper for a kick of heat.
• Double it, triple it, etc. If you want a big batch, the recipe measurements are easy to multiply.
• Shake it. If you don’t want to use the immersion blender, or don’t have one, seal the jar and shake vigorously.
• Go herby. Add a bit of fresh rosemary, thyme, or oregano for extra flavor and fragrance.
• Add smokey flavor. Swap a quarter of the vegetable oil for melty bacon fat for a smokey variation.

Ways to Use Maple Dijon Dressing

This dressing pairs well with many hearty salads and bowls recipes. Here are a few delicious suggestions:

• With wild rice. Ever since I created this dressing to go with my holiday wild rice salad, I gravitate toward eating it with wild rice. There’s something so perfect about the dressing’s flavors with the earthy, nutty wild rice – they just go together! I often make impromptu (no recipe) wild rice salad bowls with wild rice, arugula, sautéed chicken, chopped veggies, and crumbled goat cheese – and then drizzle maple Dijon dressing over the top. SO GOOD!
• With beet salads. It’s also very good with an arugula beet salad and a roasted beet salad, instead of balsamic vinaigrette.
• Over hearty fall & winter salads. Add a different flavor twist to my winter apple salad or harvest salad with butternut squash with this maple Dijon dressing.
• Make your own simple salad. Here’s an example of a salad I love to pair this dressing with: arugula or spinach, sliced apples or pears, thinly sliced red onion or pickled red onions, chopped candied pecans, and shaved Parmesan or crumbled goat cheese.

How to Store It

Refrigerate the dressing in a jar or other airtight container for up to 7 days. Give it a shake before serving to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.