This fresh sherry vinaigrette is a vibrant, flavorful salad dressing you’re going to crave! It’s the perfect addition to so many salads and adds the bright, bold flavor of sherry vinegar to everything it touches.
While it might seem that I like to share less-than-healthy dishes on the regular, I promise we eat more than pasta and cookies. (Well, at least occasionally!) Truthfully, we love fresh green salads of all kinds and try to eat them almost every day!
Because I eat them often, I like to mix my salads up by using different salad dressings and toppings. This sherry vinaigrette is a flavorful homemade salad dressing that pairs perfectly with fresh leafy greens.
This dressing is perfect to serve with my spring salad mix and cabbage salad. I love fresh homemade salad dressings! I’ve even got a round up of 15 of the BEST vinaigrette dressings – there’s truly something for everyone.
Sherry Vinaigrette
Why You’ll Love It
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Olive Oil – I like to use extra virgin olive oil, but you can use regular olive oil if that’s what you have. The oil helps to balanced out the acidity of the vinegar.
- Sherry Vinegar – A complex and balanced vinegar that is not overly sweet. It has a fresh and zesty flavor that is perfect for a salad dressing.
- Salt and Pepper – A little salt and pepper really help to bring out the wonderful flavors from the sherry vinegar.
Variations
- Add fresh chopped herbs if you’d like. You can never go wrong with flavorful fresh herbs! However, the base of this salad dressing is a celebration of simplicity.
- Add a little fresh squeezed lemon juice.
- Add a tablespoon of white granulated sugar to sweeten this dressing a little.
How To Make Sherry Vinaigrette
- Combine – Add the ingredients to a mason jar and seal the lid.
- Mix – Shake to combine.
Tips
- Don’t dress your salad until just before serving. If you add it too far ahead of time, the greens wilt and go soggy.
- If you aren’t using the dressing straight away, shake it before use as the ingredients will separate.
- You can either shake the ingredients together in a mason jar or whisk them together in a small bowl.
- You can make your own sherry vinegar by infusing 3/4 parts red wine vinegar and 1/4 part sherry, but it’s accessible at most grocery stores. Of course you can always purchase it online as well!
Frequently Asked Questions
Sherry Vinegar is much less sweet and a lot more complex compared to balsamic. It’s a balanced, acidic blend that falls somewhere between a white and red wine vinegar in color, and it’s got the perfect zesty flavor for fresh salad dressing.
Sherry vinegar based in sherry wine, aged for at least six months. So yes, there is alcohol in sherry vinaigrette, albeit very minimal.
While vinegar and olive oil are both shelf stable, homemade vinaigrette dressing recipes often have additional items like citrus, garlic, or mustard. Do not store this sherry vinaigrette at room temperature if you’ve added fresh ingredients!
Leftover Idea
Use leftover sherry vinaigrette in wraps, sandwiches, and on your favorite pasta salad.
To Store
- Room Temperature – If your sherry vinaigrette contains only vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper (as indicated in this recipe), you can store it for up to one week in an airtight container, preferably in a dark space like a cabinet.
- Refrigerate – You an also store this vinaigrette in the fridge for up to three weeks. However, if you’ve added fresh fruit or herbs, you should only use for up to a week!
More Salad Dressing Inspiration
Sherry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- ¼ cup sherry vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a jar with a tight lid.
- Shake well and toss in salad or pasta salad.
Julie’s Tips
Tips
- If you aren’t using the dressing straight away, shake it before use as the ingredients will separate.
- You can either shake the ingredients together in a mason jar or whisk them together in a small bowl.
How to Store
- If your sherry vinaigrette contains only vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper (as indicated in this recipe), you can store it for up to one week in an airtight container, preferably in a dark space like a cabinet.
- You an also store this vinaigrette in the fridge for up to three weeks. However, if you’ve added fresh fruit or herbs, you should only use for up to a week!
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
What was the sherry vinegar used?
Hi Lydia,
Any type of sherry vinegar will work, but this is the one I have on hand right now.
I hope that’s helpful, and I hope you enjoy this vinaigrette!
Julie
Where do I buy that gorgeous glass dressing bottle in the picture?
Unfortunately it’s not longer available, but you can purchase a dispenser for most glass bottles. Enjoy!