This oil-free dressing is tangy, bright, sweet, and filled with fresh herbs. Easy to make and ready in 2 minutes, it’s perfect for your favorite salad, grain bowls, or pasta salad.
Do you have a difficult time finding a decent vegan salad dressing without oil since you started pursuing a whole food plant-based lifestyle? I get it.
Plant-based foods have come a long way. But you still need to read those labels. And that’s especially true regarding vegan versions of your favorite salad dressing.
But, the weather’s getting warm, it’s salad season, and you want to enjoy that nice fresh salad. And the last thing you want to do is cover it in some oil-filled commercial salad dressings from the grocery store. What do you do?
I know, I know. It’s hard to find healthy salad dressing recipes that don’t taste like crap?
Good news, my friends! This delicious oil-free dressing is made with simple, healthy ingredients and contains no added oil. That’s right! It’s completely oil-free!
“But, Shane, what about flavor?” This salad dressing has so much flavor it should come with a disclaimer: “Warning: May cause sudden bursts of joy, spontaneous dancing, and uncontrollable cravings for more salad!”
Do you prefer creamy dressings? Check out my Vegan Ranch Dressing, vegan French Dressing, and other creamy oil-free dressings.
Why you should make your own homemade salad dressings
Homemade salad dressings are much better for you and much more cost-efficient.
You can control the ingredients, so you always know it’s healthy. And the ingredients are cheap, which makes them a great addition to your weekly menu.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This simple oil-free dressing recipe uses only healthy ingredients; no blender or food processor is required.
- balsamic vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- maple syrup
- nutritional yeast (optional)
- basil and oregano
The recipe card at the bottom of the page contains a full list of ingredients, amounts, steps, and notes.
How To Make Oil-Free Salad Dressing
Whether you’re following an oil-free diet for health reasons or you just want something lighter with flavor, this is a good dressing for you. And it’s stupidly simple to make.
- Add all your ingredients to a mason jar with a lid
- Shake until the dressing is well mixed.
- Enjoy this sweet and tangy salad dressing on your favorite salad, side salad, or use it to add flavor to your favorite vegetables.
Yes, we know it’s great on your leafy greens. But you can also use it in my Tomato Cucumber Salad and Classic Three Bean Salad.
Oil-free Dressing Variations
This flavorful dressing is great as-is. But the original recipe is a great oil-free base for creating your concoction. Here are a few of my favorite ways to add to this recipe.
- Vinegar: You can change the flavor profile of this oil-free dressing by replacing the balsamic vinegar with rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar.
- Fruit Juice: a splash of fresh orange juice or apple juice is a great way to add a sweet depth of flavor.
- Spices & Seasonings: get creative with the flavor, and don’t be afraid to experiment. Seasonings like thyme, marjoram, oregano, and parsley add great flavor. Spices like garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper add a bit more savoriness and a kick!
- Citrus: a light squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lime juice adds more brightness.
- Savory: a little low-sodium soy sauce or miso paste adds a nice “umami” essence. But go sparingly, or it’ll be too salty.
- Sweetener: date syrup or agave nectar can be used instead of maple syrup.
- Fresh Herbs: fresh basil, oregano, or fresh parsley bring a fresh and herby vibe.
- Silken Tofu: try blending ¼ cup of lite silken tofu with dressing. It adds creaminess, almost like a Caesar dressing, without all of the extra oil. It also makes a great dip for your favorite vegetables.
Salad Dressing FAQs
Peanut butter, almond butter, and tahini are all great ways of adding healthy fats and flavor to this dressing.
Low-calorie and fat-free options that are plant-based and homemade are best for salads if you’re watching the waistline. This oil-free dressing is a great option for that huge salad if you want to drop a few pounds.
Yes, absolutely! You can make a big batch, divide the dressing evenly in an ice cube tray, and place it in the freezer. This is a great way to use only what you want or need. You can thaw it by heating it in the microwave or stovetop or letting it sit in the fridge overnight.
Pro Tips
If you’re going to make this recipe, make sure to follow this top tip!
- Store in a glass jar with an airtight lid like a mason jar.
- This dressing is great for meal prep and making larger quantities because it keeps so well. You can store it in a jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 2 months.
- You can leave the maple syrup out of this recipe if you don’t like the sweetness.
- Toss in a tablespoon of sesame seeds for texture and presentation, and add a bit of nuttiness to your dressing.
More oil-free salad dressing recipes
Check out this delicious list of healthy salad dressings!
If you try this recipe be sure and let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #shaneandsimple on Instagram. Peace, grace, and good vibes.
Oil-Free Balsamic Salad Dressing
- Total Time2 mins.
- Yield4 servings 1x
- DietVegan
This balsamic Oil free Salad Dressing is so easy to make and ready in less than 2 minutes! It’s tangy with a hint of sweetness and absolutely delicious. Whole foods plant-based, nut-free, oil-free, and gluten-free.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ½ tsp. dried basil
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar with an airtight lid and shake until everything is well combined. If you don’t have jar, add the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk.
Equipment
Buy Now → Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
- Calories: 33
- Sugar: 6.4 g
- Sodium: 79.9 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.3 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Prep Time: 2 mins.
- Category: Salads & Dressings
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Vegan
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This is similar to the Esselstyns’ 3-2-1 dressing: 3 parts balsamic vinegar, 2 parts maple syrup, 1 part Dijon mustard. Simple and good! It’s the only dressing I use. But I’m willing to try the addition of some nooch and herbs. Change is good, right?
haha, I think so. 🙂
Quick, easy, tasty, healthy, the whole family enjoyed it.
My husband loves it!! I like it too. Game changer for sure ,Thank You.
How can something so simple and easy be so delicious and nutritious?!
I subbed half of the Dijon mustard with regular mustard. Yum!
It still blows my mind.
Delicious and so full of flavor! My new go-to for salad. I can’t wait to try it on other recipes too. Finally, something that’s healthier for you that so tastes great!
Thank you so much!
Fantastic and so easy!
Delicious versatile oil free dressing! Thank you for another 5 star WFPB recipe Shane!
Made this for my husband, he really really liked it!
This is the FIRST oil-free dressing I’ve tried that is not just good–it’s AMAZING! 10/10! It has a tangy taste, with just the right amount of sweetness and spice. This will be a new staple in my fridge. Someone commented about adding garlic–I’ll try that next. Someone also uses on pasta–that will be added to my regular rotation as well. Your recipes give me confidence when serving plant-based meals to my omni-friends. Thanks for all your sharing and hard work. When I encourage others to try plant-based recipes, I always tell them to subscribe to your site. Your recipes never fail to deliver.
Yum, yum, yum! Found this when looking for a lower calorie dressing. I don’t miss the oil at all. I made it yesterday and it was great. Eating it again today and it is even better! Thanks for sharing! This one is going into the archives!
Hi Shane! I made this with Balsamic GLAZE which is really thick. Was I supposed to use the thiner Balsamic vinegar? Please share what you use when it come to the Balsamic. I did think it was really good! 🙂
Vinegar and glaze are two different things. Balsamic vinegar is very thin.
Hello, I just made my second jar of this amazing dressing and it’s a huge hit! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much!!!
I have finally found an oil-free dressing that I like. Thanks. You are the best!
So good! So tasty! Thanks Shane.
Took to our synagogue oneg to replace store bought dressing and everyone wants the recipe.
So amazing how good it can be without oil.
Thanks Shane!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it.
WOW!!!!! Fabulous salad dressing! This one is moving to the top of my list!
Thank you, Mr. Shane!
My youngest son’s favorite dressing! I’ve started doubling the recipe, because he doesn’t want anything else. Thanks, Shane!
Love this dressing, just perfect , between sweet and tangy !! Love your recipes , so simple, and easy to make !! Thank you 😊
Wow. Didn’t even miss the olive oil. Thank you for this lovely dressing. Just discovered your website a few days ago and now can’t wait to try more of your creations.
Thank you so much, Paula!!!
So good. I was looking for something lower calorie than EVOO and this fits the bill without sacrificing taste. I add a little chopped garlic, salt and pepper. Perfect.
Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
This is THE BEST salad dressing EVER! I eat a salad almost every day for lunch and never get tired of this dressing! SO much better than any store bought brand and easy!
Thank you so much!!!
Thanks for this tasty salad dressing recipe. Easy and nut free. Since I am a single person household, I love that it keeps in the fridge for 2-3 months.
So delicious! So easy! And oil free! Thanks so much!
Fabulous!!
I made this to use in pasta salad. It was great! So easy and delicious and I had all the ingredients on hand. I usually prefer creamy dressings for greens, but will definitely be using this for salads also. I look forward to trying so many of your other recipes that all look so amazing. Thanks Shane for sharing your passion for WFPB cooking in this awesome blog. I wish I had known you when you were here in Charlotte. I would have loved to cook with and learn from you. 😊
Wow, thank you so much! Maybe we can meet when we’re back in town:)
Count me in! ☺️
Where has this dressing been all of my life? 😍. It is seriously so good. I’m only a week into my vegan journey and this dressing is totally saving me!!!!! Honestly, it’s better than the ones I eaten in the past with oil. Thank you so much for this recipe (and all the others)
Let me just say………..You knocked it outta park with this recipe! It even tastes BETTER than the oily ones!
Every time I need a recipe for something, I google you! Thanks for all you do to keep us on track!
I so appreciate you!
Thank you!
I was in the middle of making my salad. My option was a store bought dressing that was too oily for me. So I looked online and came across your recipe! I had all the ingredients and it was quick and easy! And it was pretty tasty! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
This was YUMMY! I made it with spicy brown mustard, because that’s what I had. I also used honey instead of maple syrup. (My brother-in-law is a bee keeper, and I like to support the honey bees!) I love the taste of this dressing, made without oil.
Sounds great, Loretta! Thanks for reaching out.
This shit is THE BOMB!!! Addicting. I love garlic and added a couple cloves and it is simply DELECTABLE. Thank you! No more olive oil! 🙂
Hell yeah!
Delicious oil free recipe! I chose to make it without the maple syrup as I prefer a less sweet dressing. I used a dark aged balsamic from The Olive Station.
WOW!!!! Tasty, easy to make with ingredients in every household! Who could ask for more? Did I mention that it keeps and can I use it as a formula so I can tweak the herbs, the sweetener, the vinegars, what mustard I want, and it keeps up to 2 weeks! Now that’s a winner.
Tangy,
Sweet,
Gluten-free,
Easy,
Versatile,
Fat-free,
& SO delicious!
EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love this dressing…delicious and so very easy to prepare!!! I inherited 2 of my mom’s Good Seasonings cruets from the 1960s/70s and when I double the recipe it fills one of the cruets…which is perfect…and I get about 8 servings!
How long will this recipe stay fresh in frig? I live alone and will mot be using it everyday? LIVE YOUR recipes thank you
2-3 weeks.
In the article it says 2-3 months – just to be sure is it weeks or months?
Hi, Linda! It is for months.
Love this. So easy to make and the fact that it keeps for 8 weeks or more in the fridge. I’ll have it used long before that time. I used 1tbsp of deli mustard and 2 tbsp of Dijon. The deli mustard gives a bit more heat.
I have now made this salad dressing a dozen times. I love it! I tweak the recipe each time with whatever fresh or dry herbs I have. This dressing also makes an excellent marinade. Looking forward to more oil-free dressings. In the meantime, all the dressings on this site are delicious and easy to make. Thank You!
Thanks so much, Valerie! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d really appreciate you giving it a star rating. It helps me with the powers-that-be in Google land:)
I have now made this salad dressing a dozen times. I love it! I tweak the recipe each time with whatever fresh or dry herbs I have. This dressing also makes an excellent marinade. Looking forward to more oil-free dressings. In the meantime, all the dressings on this site are delicious and easy to make. Thank You!
This was so flavorful. Hard to believe the dressing didn’t contain oil. I didnt feel a bit guilty for completely coating my salad. So satisfying. Thank you!
My pleasure, Dana! Blessings.
Perfect recipe to use up our abundance of zucchini from our garden. Really so quick and easy. My three year old loved it as well, though she didn’t want the dressing b/c she’s not a huge mustard fan. There was a lot leftover, so we just tossed it on pasta the next day and added a bit of olive our instead of dressing. Was also great.
Awesome! Yes, it makes a great pasta salad:)
Who knew dressing sans oil could be so good. I made this to go stop the summer squash saute. First time I ever liked zucchini that wasn’t baked into bread.
Love the recipe! Wonder if you would share what brand of balsamic you use? I’m always trying to find a good source of balsamic. Thanks!
Thank you so much! Honestly, it’s usually whatever I see first and grab:)
Yum!!! Made this for a spinach/orange/red onion salad on a camping trip!!
I’m underweight and need to gain 7 more pounds, so I will use EVOO and delete the maple syrup since I don’t like a sweet & savory combo. Love maple syrup, of course, but only in pancakes or muffins. If I was looking to maintain or lose weight, maybe I’d throw in pureed cannellini beans and some aquafaba. The recipe looks like a winner.
This dressing is amazing! I used half the maple syrup and added some garlic powder since I don’t like mine too sweet and love garlic. Had to share with a friend as well, so 4 people in total that loved it! We range from one who is completely Vegan, almost entirely WFPB, 2 of us working on being more plant based, & 1 Midwestern meat guy who is not interested in healthy eating at all but still raved about it!
so simple. so good. just what I was l looking for to keep true to my new #WFPB-NO eating style
I had every single ingredient on hand. That never happens!
Awesome! Thank you, Tammy!
This is a great salad dressing and the Dijon mustard took it to another level!
Thanks so much, Patty!!! So glad you enjoyed it.
Love this!!! Finally a great balsamic dressing recipe that is easy and tasty.
This is a perfect dressing. I love that it uses ingredients I always have on hand. Thank you.
Lindsey, thank you so much! Happy New Year!
Shane, love this dressing, so quick, easy and yummy! And no blender needed, that’s worth 5 stars right there! 😉 Thank you!
This is amazing & so quick & easy to make! Another staple in my kitchen Shane, thank you! This is a winner!
Thank you!
Amazing flavors. This is a winner!!
This is very good. Can I replace the balsamic vinegar with a different type? I have other types of vinegar that I would like to make into a salad dressing.
Thank you
I would try apple cider vinegar.
Yum! Even my teens approved! The only addition I made was crushed garlic. Thanks for the terrific recipe Shane! 🙏🏼
You can never go wrong with garlic.
Delicious, thanks so much! I’m 3 weeks into my WFPBD and most surprising to me, oil has been the most difficult thing to give up. I was SO happy to see your oil free dressing and mayo.
Congrats, Melanie! Way to go and so glad you liked the dressing. Keep it up. It gets easier. So excited for you.
Really delicious!!! Yay!! Salad dressing without oil and is so so yummy!!
I made this recipe a few weeks ago & it is so delicious.
Needs to be renamed: *The Best* Oil-Free Balsalic Dressing! By far the best oil-free balsamic dressing I’ve tried! I used some blueberry balsamic vinegar that I happened to have on hand. Thanks for yet another terrific recipe!
Wow! Thank you so much!!!
Love this recipe. So simple and tastes just like the oil laden store bought brand I have purchased in the past. Thank you.
This was terrific, and so simple and easy!
This is a great recipe!! So quick, easy, and simple!! What I especially like about it is that besides tasting good it keeps a long time. So many of the salad dressing recipes that can be found online only store for several days which makes them hardly worth the effort.
That being said, I am not a big fan of mustard. Can you suggest anything else to use in place of mustard? – maybe something that would give it a different flavor? Maybe something sweet or tangy? It seems like every WFPB vinaigrette recipe uses mustard. Surely there must be some vinaigrettes that don’t use mustard but still taste good and store a long time? I look forward to hearing any suggestions you may have.
P.S. I love the way your recipes print out in such an easy to read, simple, and clear format. Thank you for all your hard work!! Your site is stellar! =)
Hi, Carolyn! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. You can totally leave out the mustard and add a little more maple if you like. Thanks for reaching out and the kind words.
This is really good. Thank you for a recipe that is not only delicious but so simple with on hand ingredients!
Thank you, Janice!