Best Summer Vinaigrette Recipes

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place the salad greens, chicken, peas, berries and celery in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, preserves, salt, onion powder and pepper. Drizzle over salad; toss gently to coat. Top with almonds.

ARTICHOKE, FENNEL, ASPARAGUS, GREEN BEAN AND FRESH SUMMER TRUFFLE SALAD, TOPPED WITH GRILLED HALIBUT FILLET IN A TRUFFLE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Trim outer leaves of artichokes all the way to the heart. Cook artichoke hearts in simmering water with lemon juice for approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Cool down in an ice water bath, and then cut into small sections.
• Peel and cook asparagus for 1 minute in simmering water. Cool down in an ice water bath to keep green. Cut each spear into 3 pieces, on the bias.
• Trim and snip green beans. Cook in boiling water for 2 minutes. Cool down in an iced water bath to keep green.
• Clean and trim fennel. Cut out center part, and then cook in boiling water for about 40 minutes, or until tender. Cool down in an iced water bath. Cut into even wedges.
• Slice fresh summer truffle very finely with a sharp knife, and set aside. In a small salad bowl, mix the shallots, olive and truffle oils, sherry vinegar, and salt and pepper, to taste. Set dressing aside.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Season halibut with salt and pepper, and grill on both sides until cooked through (fish should be opaque in the center).
• On 4 large dinner plates, arrange baby lettuce, artichokes, asparagus, green beans, and fennel. Place halibut in the center on top, dribble with vinaigrette, and garnish with fresh summer truffle slices.

SUMMER SALAD WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk the first eight ingredients. Refrigerate until serving., In a salad bowl, combine the salad greens, onion, mushrooms, raspberries and walnuts. Drizzle with dressing; toss to coat. Serve immediately.

SUMMER BEAN SALAD WITH TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Combine the first 10 ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Set aside while you make the vinaigrette using the remaining ingredients.
• Place the wine in a saucepan with the tarragon stems and reduce over medium-high heat to 1-cup liquid. Immediately pour the hot, reduced wine over the chopped shallots and lemon zest in a medium-sized bowl. Let sit together and cool to room temperature (or place in refrigerator to speed up process). Remove the tarragon stems and discard. Whisk in the lemon juice and rice vinegar. Continue whisking, drizzling in the olive oil, tasting as you go. Season with salt and pepper as needed, and add a bit more lemon juice or rice vinegar if more acidity is desired.
• Combine the vinaigrette with the beans and vegetables and tarragon and taste again for seasonin

SUMMER KALE, AVOCADO, MANGO, AND CHICKPEA SALAD WITH CITRUS POPPY SEED VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Place kale in a large bowl and gently massage it with your hands until slightly tender, 2 to 4 minutes. Let kale rest to tenderize further, about 10 minutes.
• Stir avocado, mango, chickpeas, and cucumber into kale.
• Combine olive oil, vinegar, orange juice, sunflower seed kernels, mustard, poppy seeds, and marmalade in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; put on the lid and shake until dressing is well combined. Pour dressing over kale mixture and toss to coat.

PAN ROASTED COD, SHIITAKE QUINOA, OVEN ROASTED TOMATO AND SAUTEED ARUGULA WITH BACON BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND SWEET SUMMER CORN MILK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season the fish on all sides with the salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a saute pan over high heat. Sear the fish on the flesh side until it is golden brown. Turn the fillets over carefully and place the pan in the oven. Cook the fish in the oven to desired doneness. When the fish is done place 1/4 of the Shiitake Quinoa in the center of the plate. On top of the quinoa place a slice of Oven Roasted Tomato. Place the fish on top of the tomato. Place 1/4 of the Sauteed Arugala on top of the fish. Spoon the Bacon Balsamic Vinaigrette and Summer Corn Milk around the plate.
• Heat the oil in a saute pan. Add the shiitake mushrooms and cook until they start to release their liquid and soften. Add the quinoa and stir to coat the grains. Add the chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on a low flame until the liquid is absorbed and the quinoa is cooked, about 12 minutes. Take off the heat, season with salt and pepper and stir in the butter. Set in a warm place covered until needed.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the 4 slices of tomato in a baking dish large enough to fit the tomatoes in 1 layer. Season with salt and pepper and place 1 piece of bay leaf on each tomato slice. Sprinkle a little of the garlic and thyme on top of the tomato slices. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Place the dish on the middle rack in the oven and roast until the tomato is just hot and soft, about 2 to 3 minutes (convection oven), do not overcook. Take out of oven, remove pieces of bay leaf and set in a warm place until needed.
• Heat the oil in a saute pan. Add the arugula and stir around until leaves are wilted. Season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat and set aside.
• Chop the bacon and put in a pan over a medium-low flame. Render the fat making sure not to let it burn. When the fat is rendered out of the bacon add the balsamic vinegar. Add the butter and blend in with an immersion blender or hand held electric beater.
• Cut the corn off the cob by running a knife down the length of the cob. Put the corn kernels in a juicer or into cheesecloth and squeeze to extract the corn milk. Put the corn milk into a small saucepan.
• Heat gently over a low flame and stir frequently (be careful not to heat it too quickly). When the corn milk is hot add the chives and butter and mix with an immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper and reserve in a warm place.

SUMMER SALAD WITH GRILLED SHRIMP AND PINEAPPLE IN CHAMPAGNE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Heat a grill to medium-high heat or have a ridged grill pan ready. For vinaigrette, whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Transfer 3 tablespoons of the mixture to a pie plate or shallow plate. Stir pepper flakes and garlic into oil mixture on plate.
• (Sneak a quick dip of artisan bread into the mixture - so good!)
• Add shrimp to plate; toss with oil mixture. Thread shrimp onto metal skewers or soaked bamboo skewers. Brush oil mixture from plate over skewers. Transfer skewers to grill; discard marinade on plate. Add pineapple to grill. Grill shrimp and pineapple (or cook shrimp in a heated ridged grill pan over medium heat and grill pineapple in pan after shrimp is removed) 4 minutes. Turn skewers and pineapple over; continue grilling 4 to 5 minutes or until shrimp are opaque.
• Meanwhile, toss mixed greens with remaining vinaigrette; arrange on four large serving plates. Carve pineapple crosswise into 1/2 inch thick slices; arrange over salads. Remove shrimp from skewers; arrange over salads. Top with basil.

ORZO WITH GRILLED SHRIMP, SUMMER VEGETABLES, AND PESTO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Transfer to large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon oil.
• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 2 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl. Brush zucchini and bell pepper with oil mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk pesto, lime juice, remaining 3 1/2 tablespoons oil, and remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar in small bowl for pesto vinaigrette. Place shrimp in medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons pesto vinaigrette; toss to coat.
• Grill zucchini and bell pepper until crisptender, about 3 minutes per side for zucchini and 4 minutes per side for bell pepper. Transfer to work surface. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper; grill until charred and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place shrimp in bowl with orzo. Chop zucchini and bell pepper; add to bowl with orzo. Add remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, sliced basil, and mozzarella; toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover; chill.
• Garnish with basil sprigs and serve cold or at room temperature.

SUMMER SALAD WITH CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk together first five ingredients., For salad, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; stir-fry beef until browned, 1-3 minutes. Remove from heat. If desired, sprinkle with salt., Place romaine, fruit and beef in a serving dish. Toss with vinaigrette. If desired, top with walnuts. Serve immediately.

GRILLED POTATO AND SUMMER SQUASH SALAD WITH MARJORAM-LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk lemon juice, shallot, 1 tablespoon marjoram, and lemon peel in small bowl. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup oil. Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Place potatoes in large saucepan; add enough cold salted water to cover. Boil just until almost tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Transfer potatoes to medium bowl. Add 1 teaspoon marjoram and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
• Combine squash and bell pepper in large bowl; add remaining 1 teaspoon marjoram and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat.
• Arrange potatoes in single layer in grill basket. Grill until tender, 5 minutes per side. Transfer to large bowl. Grill squash and bell pepper until tender, turning occasionally, 10 minutes. Transfer squash to bowl with potatoes. Cut bell pepper into 1-inch pieces; add to vegetables. Add vinaigrette; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SUMMER BUTTER BEAN SALAD WITH HOT SAUCE VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the hot sauce vinaigrette: Put the hot sauce, vinegar, honey, mustard, garlic, oil and salt and pepper to taste in a lidded jar. Seal the jar and shake to combine. Set aside.
• For the salad: In a large bowl, combine the butter beans, corn kernels, cucumber, red onion, tomatoes and basil. Toss to combine. Start by adding 1/2 cup vinaigrette and gently stir to combine. Add more vinaigrette as desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

SUMMER-SQUASH ROLLS WITH HERBED RICOTTA, ARUGULA, AND TOASTED-HAZELNUT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash ribbons with 2 tablespoons oil; arrange in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Roast just until tender, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine shallot and vinegar; let stand 15 minutes. Whisk in remaining 1/4 cup oil and hazelnuts; season with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl, combine ricotta, herbs, Pecorino Romano, and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Place 3 arugula leaves crosswise on one end of each squash ribbon. Top with about 1 1/2 tablespoons ricotta filling. Roll squash up to create a little bundle, and place, seamside down, on a platter. Repeat with remaining squash, arugula, and filling. Serve, drizzled with vinaigrette.

ORZO WITH GRILLED SHRIMP, SUMMER VEGETABLES, AND PESTO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse with cold water, drain well. Transfer to large bowl and toss with 1 tbls oil. Prebare barbecue ( med-high heat). Whisk 2 tbls oil and 2 tbls vinegar in small bowl. Brush zucchini and bell pepper with oil mixture, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisdk pesto, lime juice remaining 3 1/2 tbls oil, and remaining 2 tbls vinegar in small bowl for pesto vinaigrette. Place shrimp in medium bowl. Add 2 tbls pesto vinagrette, toss to coat. Grill zucchini and bell pepper until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes per side for zucchini and 4 minutes per side for bell pepper. Transfer to work surface. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper, grill until charred and cooked through, 2 - 3 minutes per side. Place shrimp in bowl with orzo. Chop zucchini and bell pepper: add to bowl with orzo. Add remaining vinaigrette, tomatoes, sliced basil, and mozzarella; toss to combine. Season to taste with and pepper. can be made 2 hours ahead. Cover, chill. Garnish with basil sprigs.

SUMMER TOMATO SALAD WITH RICOTTA SALATA AND CREAMY GARLIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Arrange tomatoes on a platter. Toss fennel in a bowl with a few tablespoons of the creamy garlic dressing and season with salt and pepper. Mound the fennel in the middle of the platter on top of the tomatoes. Sprinkle with the herbs, cheese and olives and drizzle with some more of the creamy garlic dressing.
• Combine mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, mustard and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Slowly add the olive oil until emulsified and season with salt and pepper to taste.

SUMMER BROCCOLI SALAD WITH SWEET BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Make Salad: Combine ingredients into bowl one at a time, folding the salad thoroughly for even distribtuion. Make Vinaigrette: In a large mixing bowl, begin whisking balsamic vinegar vigorously, slowly adding vegetable oil. For proper emulsion, it is best to add the oil over a period of about twn minutes of whisking. Then, slowly whisk in the olive oil and lemon juice. Whisk in brown sugar to offset the vinegar's acidity. When the dressing is blennded uniformly, whisk in the onions and tarragon, and let the flavors meld for a while. Bring it all together: Finally, filter the vinaigrette through a fine mesh seive to remove onions and tarragon. Mix the sweet dressing into salad mixture to taste (you'll probably end up using most of it). Serve right away, or chill for a few hours. Either way, results should be pretty awesome.

GRILLED STRIPED BASS WITH SUMMER VEGETABLES AND COUSCOUS VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For vegetables and couscous: Preheat oven to 400°F. Rub cut sides of eggplant with 1 tbsp oil and sprinkle with cumin. Season with salt and pepper and place in baking pan, cut sides down; bake for 30 minutes or until eggplant is browned and cooked through. Remove and let sit until cool enough to handle. Spoon out flesh onto cutting board and roughly chop; transfer to a medium-sized bowl. While eggplant is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set up an ice bath by combining 5 cups ice cubes and 7 cups cold water in a large bowl. Blanch green beans in boiling water until bright green, about 3 minutes; remove with a slotted spoon and cool in the ice bath at least 1 minute (until cool in center). Repeat with wax beans. Cook corn for 15 seconds, then cool 1 minute in ice bath. Drain and blot dry all vegetables. Add tomatoes and toss together gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook couscous according to package instructions; mix with eggplant and stir in 2 tbsp oil, red wine vinegar, and basil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• For fish: Preheat grill or broiler. Brush fish on both sides with remaining oil. Season skin side with salt and pepper. Starting with skin side down, grill or broil fish 4 minutes. Season flesh side with salt and pepper; turn and grill or broil about 4 minutes longer or until cooked through.
• To serve: Spoon equal amounts of vegetables and couscous onto 4 plates and top with grilled fish. Serve hot.

GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH SALAD WITH ARUGULA, RANCH TOMATOES AND TARRAGON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Tarragon Vinaigrette:
• In a small bowl add olive oil, sherry vinegar, chopped tarragon, salt and cracked pepper and whisk. Reserve for salad.
• Brush zucchini and squash with tarragon vinaigrette and grill lightly on both sides. Reserve for salad.
• In a large bowl, combine the arugula, tomatoes, and tarragon vinaigrette; add a little at a time. Do not overdress salad; greens should be lightly coated. Lay out 8 plates, arrange 1 zucchini slice and 1 yellow squash slice on each plate, add a handful of arugula tomato salad and season with salt and cracked pepper.

VEGAN SUMMER THREE-BEAN SALAD WITH TOFU AND SOY VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• For the tofu-soy vinaigrette: In a blender, combine the tofu, soy sauce, sugar, sambal oelek, vinegar and sesame oil. Blend until smooth. With the motor running at medium-low speed, slowly add the canola oil; the vinaigrette will become very thick. May be covered and refrigerated for up to a week.
• For the beans and radishes: Prepare two bowls of ice mixed with water. Place the sliced radishes in one of the ice baths. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to boil. Add the beans and boil until they are crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain under cold water, then place in the remaining ice bath to chill. Drain well and set aside.
• For the tofu croutons: Pour oil into a wok or small deep-fryer over high heat, and heat to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, put cornstarch into a wide, shallow bowl, and add tofu, tossing gently to coat. Working in batches, if needed, deep-fry the tofu until golden and crispy, 5 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Season with salt, and set aside.
• Drain the radishes well, and place in a large bowl. Add blanched beans, and toss to mix. Add vinaigrette to taste, reserving any excess for another use. Mix well, and season with salt to taste. To serve, place in individual serving plates or bowls, top with tofu croutons, and sprinkle with black and white sesame seeds.

BBQ PORK SALAD WITH SUMMER FRUITS AND HONEY BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• FOR THE VINAIGRETTE: In a blender, combine all ingredients except oil, salt and pepper. Blend at medium speed for 1 minute. Next, with blender at medium speed, pour oil very slowly into blender. Add salt and pepper.
• For each serving, toss 2 cups greens with 2 tablespoons dressing, top with 4 cherry tomatoes, 1 sliced pork chop, 1/2 avocado sliced into wedges, 1/2 nectarine sliced into wedges, 1/4 grapefruit segmented. Drizzle with more dressing and sprinkle with toasted almonds. Serve immediately.

SUMMER QUINOA AND VEGGIES SALAD WITH HONEY-SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• for the honey-shallot vinaigrette: In a small bowl or medium sized canning jar, combine lemon juice, rice vinegar, honey, shallots, salt, and pepper. Let sit while preparing the rest of the salad. When ready to incorporate into the salad, add the olive oil to the vinaigrette mixture. Cover and shake to combine. for the salad: Prepare quinoa according to package directions. Allow quinoa to cool completely. In a large bowl, fold together cooked and cooled quinoa, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, sweet corn, green onions. Drizzle about ¾ cup of the honey-shallot vinaigrett over the salad mixture and fold to combine. Then fold in the parsley and mint. On a medium to large platter or plate, place a layer of the Spring Mix and Baby Spinach Blend. Spoon salad mixture over the greens, leaving a border of greens around the edge of the platter. Sprinkle with additional black pepper and freshly cut parsley and mint if desired.