Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette

Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette – an easy homemade salad dressing that uses just a few common pantry items and takes only 5 minutes to make! We love to pair it with fresh greens and sweet seasonal fruits!

Vinaigrette Salad Dressing with a Pinch of Paprika

When I recently shared my ridiculously crunchy candied pecans recipe with you, I spoke of a strawberry salad that our family is enamored with.

Well this is the dressing we use for the salad, a Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette. It comes together easily with just a few ingredients, including a pinch of paprika that gives it a little extra something-something.

This recipe uses red wine vinegar, which pairs super well with the fresh green salads of summer – especially when they incorporate fruit. You just have to try it with that beautiful strawberry salad!

Why Do I Make My Own Salad Dressing?

I realize that some people think I go overboard in making my own salad dressings. While there are a few store-bought dressings in our fridge, I just plain believe that homemade dressings taste better!

Besides this red wine vinaigrette, here are a few more of my family’s favorite ways to dress a fresh salad:

• Italian Vinaigrette – This dressing also uses red wine vinegar, but it’s much more savory and pungent, PERFECT for our Italian Chopped Salad recipe.
• Herby Lemon Vinaigrette – It’s loaded with bright lemons and earthy herbs, and is hugely versatile.
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing – A ranch dressing that’s fresh and creamy and tangy, so much better than store-bought!
• Honey Chipotle Vinaigrette – Are you a fan of the dressing that Chipotle restaurants use for their salads? (I am!) Then make this recipe!
• Fresh Ginger Dressing – A super simple recipe from my grandma that I’ve loved since I was a kid. If you like fresh ginger, be sure to give this a try.
• Creamy Taco Salad Dressing – The BEST dressing for our family’s favorite Dorito Taco Salad!

Salad Dressing Ingredients

This sweet red wine vinaigrette is made from a small and very basic ingredients list. And it’s super easy to make! Just grab these items:

• olive oil
• red wine vinegar
• sugar
• fresh garlic
• paprika
• kosher salt
• black pepper

What is Paprika?

Paprika is a ground spice made from the dried red fruits of a variety of peppers. Paprika has a deep orangish-red color and a rich flavor that can range from mild to hot.

I consider paprika a spice rack staple, and always have a few varieties on hand – sweet, hot, and smoked. I love them all!

This beautiful spice packs a flavor punch, wonderful in spice rubs, soups, and stews. And a sprinkling of paprika is the most excellent way to finish deviled eggs – so pretty and flavorful!

Some of my favorite recipes that incorporate paprika are my Slow Cooker Hungarian Goulash (LOTS of paprika in this recipe!), this wonderful Crab Bisque, and one of my most-loved recipes EVER: Margarita Grilled Shrimp!

How to Make Vinaigrette

This recipe includes the easiest directions!

Simply place all the ingredients in a jar or small bowl with tall sides, and then blitz it a few times with an immersion blender to bring it altogether. That’s it!

If you don’t have an immersion blender, no worries. Just cover the jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously to combine.

How to Store Vinaigrette

Keep this vinaigrette in the refrigerator, in a container with a tight-fitting lid. It will stay good for up to two weeks.

Before using, remove dressing from fridge about 30 minutes prior to eating. The olive oil solidifies when cold, so you want to bring the dressing to room temperature. Then give the dressing a vigorous shake to incorporate, and you’re ready to go!

Variation Ideas

There are a number of ways I’d suggest for you to play around with this recipe:

• Switch up the oil. Lately I’ve become a fan of avocado oil – have you tried it?
• Swap out the sugar. Use honey. Or use half sugar and half honey.
• Try different varieties of paprika. I tend to use a sweet or mild paprika for this dressing, but I know that a spicy or smoked one would also be AWESOME.
• Add Dijon mustard. So many dressing recipes love a touch of Dijon! I’d recommend starting out with a small amount, adding more as you taste test.
• Add dried herbs. Try a few shakes of oregano or an Italian blend.
• Squeeze in some lemon. This will give fresh, bright flavor!

How to Use this Vinaigrette

Our absolute favorite way to use this vinaigrette is drizzled over a fresh strawberry salad sprinkled with candied pecans.

But the dressing is ultra versatile, great for so many fresh salads – especially when the salad has fresh berries, peaches, and/or other sweet fruits.

My breakfasts and lunches oftentimes consist of some kind of eggs – fried, scrambled, poached, or hard boiled. And I like to match up the eggs with a small salad of tender greens or arugula. This sweet red wine vinaigrette would be a beautiful way to dress the greens.

And if you haven’t yet tried my Grilled Vegetable Salad, you simply MUST. Every time I serve it, the salad gets rave reviews. I think this red wine vinaigrette would be a wonderful way to switch up the dressing!

You’re going to fall in love with this strawberry salad, I just know it!

We like to pair it with homemade popovers and the fluffiest whipped Cinnamon Honey Butter. Grab my regular Popovers recipe and/or my Sourdough Popovers recipe – they’re both WONDERFUL!

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