Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing

This Perfect Pomegranate Vinaigrette Dressing is easy to prepare, makes your tastebuds dance, and is divine on any salad but especially our Mixed Greens Salad with Fruit and Nuts. As an added bonus you can also use it as a marinade for chicken.

For me, one of the hardest parts of eating more healthily is finding foods that are full of flavor but that aren't full of all the bad stuff.

I'll admit it, I'm drawn to foods that aren't great for me. Fortunately, I also love fruit, so eating salads is a lot easier with this homemade fruit vinaigrette.

Rather than loading my salad up with 1,000 Island or Ranch, I love to use this pomegranate dressing! It's healthy and delicious. Once you try this dressing, you'll be fired up for salads, too!

Looking for more healthy homemade dressings? Try our Chardonnay Vinaigrette and Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It's made with just a few simple ingredients.
• It's a healthy salad dressing that's full of flavor and guaranteed to make any salad much tastier without a ton of extra fat and calories.
• It's not just for salads! It's a great way to flavor grilled chicken!

Ingredients

This recipe only uses a handful of simple ingredients, and they're all readily available at your local grocery store. It looks fancy, but it isn't!

Check out the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.

• Pomegranate juice: Infuses the dressing with pomegranate flavor.
• Mustard: Use dijon mustard for the best flavor. It is an important ingredient because it helps the dressing emulsify and not separate.
• Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil is the best oil for making dressings. It adds a nice flavor and is a healthy option.
• Sweetener: Use honey to add a hint of natural sweetness.
• Red wine vinegar: Adds excellent acidic flavor to the dressing.
• Aromatics: You will need fresh shallots and garlic. They give the dressing more depth of flavor.

Substitutions and Variations

• Olive Oil: Grapeseed, avocado oil, or another vegetable oil will work instead.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Swap it for white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, sherry vinegar, or balsamic vinegar.
• Pomegranate Juice. You can make a similar vinaigrette using cranberry or currant juice.
• Dijon Mustard: It doesn't have the same flavor but you can use yellow mustard as well.
• Honey: Maple syrup is an easy swap but keep in mind it will alter the flavor.
• Shallots: Use chives, onions, leeks, or scallions instead.
• Spicy: To add a hint of heat, add a pinch of chili pepper flakes, harissa, or sriracha.

How to Make Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This recipe is just about the easiest of any kind you'll ever make. It only takes one step!

The highlights, such as they are, are listed below. You'll find the specific instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.

1. Combine all the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Stir everything together with a whisk until emulsified.

3. Transfer the pomegranate vinaigrette to a jar and store it until ready to use.

How to Use Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This delicious pomegranate vinaigrette dressing is delicious over any salad but it especially compliments salads with fruit.

Try it on our strawberry spinach salad with goat cheese or this cold asparagus salad.

It is also a great marinade for chicken, beef, pork, or even fish thanks to the oil and vinegar.

Tips

• Whisk this dressing well. The name of the game with any vinaigrette is emulsification, and vigorous whisking is what gets you there.
• Store pomegranate dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Use it on any salad but especially with any containing fruits!
• If the dressing separates during storage, shake it well and it should emulsify again.

FAQ

More Fresh Salad Recipes

This post was originally published June 2016. It has been republished with new images and content.