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Citrus vinaigrette is bright, flavorful, and simple to make.<\/p>\n

Even though bottled salad dressing is convenient, it’s expensive and often full of chemical additives, sugar, and salt. By making your own dressing, you know exactly what’s in it. And no preservatives here!<\/p>\n

With citrus season in full swing, what a great time for a citrus vinaigrette…<\/p>\n

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Emulsification is Key<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oil and water don’t naturally mix. Forcing oil and vinegar to combine is called an emulsion, and we can do this in one of three ways.<\/p>\n

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1. Using a blender is an effective way of mixing oil and vinegar (emulsifying). Place all ingredients in a blender and blend for about 5 seconds.<\/li>\n
2. Add all the ingredients to a mason jar, screw on the lid, and shake. The mason jar is perfect for storing any leftover dressing in the fridge.<\/li>\n
3. Below, we combined fresh orange juice, zest, olive oil, parsley, maple syrup, red wine vinegar, mustard, and sea salt in a small bowl. While whisking, the oil was drizzled in slowly.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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   Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n

   Mustard is an emulsifier and will help the process of mixing the oil with the orange juice and vinegar. Honey is also an emulsifier and can be substituted for the pure maple syrup, if desired.<\/p>\n

   You can use different vinegars. Balsamic and white wine vinegar are other good choices.<\/p>\n

   Cilantro makes a great substitution for the Italian parsley.<\/p>\n

   The Ratio<\/strong><\/p>\n

   Most vinaigrettes call for 1 part vinegar to 3 parts oil. This is said to be the perfect ratio.<\/p>\n

   While that may be true, we try to cut back on oil whenever we can. Our formula includes fresh orange juice along with vinegar. Our ratio is about 1-1\/2 parts vinegar & orange juice to 1 part oil. We find it healthier and just as delicious!<\/p>\n

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   If you don’t use the dressing right away and the oil separates from the liquids, simply whisk or shake to recombine the vinaigrette before using.<\/p>\n

   How about dressing up your salad with\u00a0Bistro Croutons?<\/a><\/p>\n

   Make It A Meal<\/strong><\/p>\n

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   • Top your salad with shredded chicken or allergy-friendly chicken tenders.<\/li>\n
   • For a delicious veggie option, top your salad with avocado and roasted beets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     If you like making your own dressings, try our Creamy Ranch Dressing.<\/a><\/p>\n