Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing on House Salad

Serve this amazing Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing with your favorite salad fixings or drizzle it over butter lettuce, toasted walnuts, shredded cheese, and sliced strawberries.

I’ve never met anyone that did not truly like this sweet red wine vinegar dressing! I know that’s a bold claim. But, we've tested it on many people.

It was always offered as part of our special occasion packages at our make-ahead meal kitchen. I’m sure there is someone out there who does not like it…but, I’ve never logged a complaint…only compliments!

I use this red wine vinaigrette on our “house” salad.

It's so named because, if you visit our house, you're probably going to enjoy it with one of your meals…or as your meal topped with Baked Blackened Chicken or Rock Shrimp.

It’s festive but does not require much work to prepare and it’s healthy too. Perfection!

How to make Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing

The cornerstone of this salad is the red wine vinegar dressing.  Beware! Once you make your own dressing, it is very hard to alternate between store-bought and homemade. You'll be hooked on the freshness.

This is my favorite container for homemade salad dressing. No measuring cups required because the markings are right on the container.

This sweet red wine vinegar dressing is made with canola oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, fresh garlic, salt, paprika and white pepper. Over time I’ve played with the formula. You can’t replace the canola oil with olive oil. And, it’s not the same without fresh garlic.

And...it needs sugar. Sigh. I wish I could use less or eliminate it altogether. But, ¼ cup is the perfect amount of sweetness. Occasionally I will cut it down to 3 Tablespoons.

Here are some sugar alternatives we've tried:

• Stevia/sugar blend. I use this often. About 2 Tablespoons is the perfect amount. Check out our Amazon store for product suggestions.
• Splenda works great, but I try to steer clear of it.
• I do not like the taste of 100% Stevia.
• Honey results in a completely different taste.

I’ve come to accept that this is one of those food items I cherish (kind of like cheesecake and dark chocolate.)  I try to make the rest of the salad ingredients healthy to compensate for this indulgence.

How to Build the Perfect Salad with Red Wine Vinegar Dressing

Here's a breakdown of our house salad with sweet red wine vinaigrette dressing along with some suggestions to make it your own. Having a list of go-to, tried and true recipes is a cornerstone of meal planning!

Fill a bowl with butter lettuce. Butter lettuce is tender and delicious And, I’m convinced I use less dressing when I use this type of lettuce because I can eat a plain leaf and enjoy it! Sometimes I toss in baby spinach leaves. A mix of spring lettuces is also very good.

Top the salad with toasted walnuts…or pecans, or sesame seeds. Something crunchy. Toasting the walnuts adds a nice touch and only takes about 5 minutes in the oven.

Mix-in shredded Monterey Jack cheese…or crumbled goat cheese or mozzarella cheese. Your favorite cheese.

Add sliced strawberries…or blueberries or dried cranberries. A fruity topping.

If you add a little protein you have a meal. A combination of sweet and spicy is addictive.

Add some crab cakes or broiled scallops and you have a gourmet meal.

Please rate this recipe if you make it and tag @DinnerMom or #DinnerMom on social media. We love to see what you are cooking up.

Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing over Salad Greens and Strawberries

Drizzle this red wine vinaigrette dressing over salad greens topped with toasted walnuts, Monterey Jack cheese and strawberries. It’s a festive and healthy salad you’ll want to make again and again.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 426kcal

Author: Marjory Pilley

Ingredients

Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing

• 1/2 cup Canola oil
• 1/4 cup Red wine vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Stevia/sugar blend Or sweetener to equal 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 Garlic clove Pressed
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon White pepper

Salad

• 8 cups Lettuce Butter lettuce or favorite greens
• 1/2 cup Walnuts Toasted, chopped
• 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese Or vegan substitute, shredded
• 1/2 pint Strawberries sliced

Instructions

Red Wine Vinaigrette Dressing

• Add all of the ingredients to jar with a tight lid and shake well to combine.

Salad Assembly

• Add salad greens to a large bowl.
• Drizzle dressing over greens and toss well.
• Sprinkle walnuts, cheese and strawberries over the top.

Notes

Substitute nuts, cheese and fruit with your favorites. To toast walnuts, layer nuts on a baking sheet and cook for about 5 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Store salad dressing in the refrigerator for up to one week.

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Nutrition

Calories: 426kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 270mg | Potassium: 371mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 865IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 210mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Nutritional and Food Safety Disclaimer