Charred Lemon Salad dressing - Fresh lemons are one of my favorite ingredients! We always have lemons in the house. This charred lemon vinaigrette is a simple and dynamic way to transform lemons into a creamy vegan salad dressing.
Similar recipes for creamy dressings contain dairy or eggs. This simple and delicious salad dressing is a combination of lemon slices, seared over high heat in a cast iron skillet, and a good "glug", of olive oil!
For the best results use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. Good food quite often relies on simple quality ingredients, and this charred lemon salad dressing is a wonderful example of this.
One of my favorite things about this charred lemon dressing is its versatility. It works wonderfully well as a salad dressing but can be used to marinate veggies and chicken before grilling!
We love pairing this charred lemon vinaigrette with goat cheese and Tuscan kale salad, as well as cabbage salad, for a healthy take on classic coleslaw. We have paired it with our roasted asparagus and fennel salad for a fresh Spring flavor combination.
If you are interested in more homemade salad dressing check out or Easy Homemade Dairy-Free/Gluten-Free Salad Dressing, Easy Apple Cider Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe, and Mint Grapefruit Vinaigrette Salad Dressing Recipe.
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What You're Going to Need!
- Fresh lemons - medium sized lemons work best.
- Green onions - we love green onions in our kitchen!
- Fresh garlic - two large cloves are what you need for this recipe.
- Dijon mustard - French mustard is a simple quality ingredient that adds so much flavor!
- White wine vinegar -you could use white balsamic vinegar if you prefer.
- Extra virgin olive oil - a flavorful extra virgin oil adds so much to this simple recipe.
See recipe card for quantities.
Recipe
Charred Lemon Salad Dressing Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Slice the lemons into ¼ inch slices and remove the seeds. Peel the garlic cloves and leave them whole.
- Place a cast iron skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan, when the pan is heated add the lemon slices in batches making certain to not cool the pan down.
- Cook the lemon slices until they are charred dark brown and turn them in order to cook the other side. Add the garlic cloves to the pan and cook them until brown on both sides.
- Clean and slice the green onions. Add them to the pitcher of a blender or the bowl of a food processor along with the remaining ingredients including the white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.
- Once the lemons are cooked to a dark brown along with the garlic cloves, place them into a small bowl to cool down for 4-5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and lemon slices to the blender pitcher or food processor bowl and combine on medium-high speed until blended and creamy.
- Taste the dressing and season to taste with more salt and pepper, or even a bit of fresh lemon juice. Place the dressing into a container with a tight-fitting lid and store in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
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How to Make Charred Lemon Salad Dressing
- Place the lemon slices into the heated cast iron pan. Make certain to sear the lemon slices in batches, making sure to not cool the pan down.
- Once the lemon slices are cooked and dark brown on one side, flip them over and add the garlic cloves.
- Put all of the ingredients into the pitcher of a blender or the bowl of a food processor.
- Blend the ingredients until the lemon dressing is smooth and creamy.
Chef Tip
Slicing the lemons really helps to ensure that the lemons are charred and softened. This is critical to the success of the final lemon dressing.
Substitutions & Variations
- Green onions - can be replaced with red onion for a more robust flavor!
- Herbs - herbs including fresh parsley and fresh basil would make a great addition to this simple dressing.
- Sugar - can be replaced with maple syrup or honey for a low glycemic choice of sweetener.
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes for a little bit of heat.
Storage & Helpful Hints
The finished lemon dressing can be stored in a container with a tight-fitting lid for at least 7 days. Just be sure to give it a good stir before using it. This delicious lemon dressing works beautifully for weekly meal prep and can be used in a variety of ways. Including as a sauce for cooked vegetables, a marinade, and of course as a creamy salad dressing!
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FAQ
You certainly can use whatever mustard is your favorite! We love Dijon, but all mustard will add a delicious tang to this simple dressing.
Jason Miller says
Amazing how creamy it comes out from just the blending of the lemon!
ABF says
Made an account just to leave this comment. White wine vinegar is listed in the written instructions (step 4) but not on the ingredients list.
Jason Miller says
We are so sorry about that! Thank you for letting us know. We will correct that right now, it's 1/4 cup of it by the way. Thanks again, Season Two Taste team.