Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette)

Name: Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup pomegranate seeds; ½ cup olive oil; ¼ cup pure maple syrup; 1 Tablespoon lemon juice; 1 Tablespoon white balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon dijon mustard; pinch of sea salt

By Laura

Posted Nov 14, 2020, Updated Mar 16, 2024

5 from 33 votes

77 Comments

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Homemade Pomegranate Vinaigrette recipe is the perfect way to dress up winter salads! This pomegranate salad dressing is made in less than 5 minutes with healthy ingredients – including whole pomegranate seeds. It’s paleo, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free.

front view of a jar of pomegranate dressing

To me, salad is a must-have side dish at any and every food-centered gathering. This Pomegranate Vinaigrette is the perfect homemade salad dressing for your winter salads!

It’s packed with fresh pomegranate seeds and a dash of lemon juice, giving it a sweet and tangy flavor! This Pomegranate Vinaigrette is gluten, dairy & refined sugar free! And it’s paleo and vegan, so it’s perfect for any and every person who will dine at your table this season! Oh, and did I mention that it’s ready in 5 minutes or less!

overhead view of a salad dressed with pomegranate vinaigrette

Pomegranate Dressing: Ingredients & Substituions

This recipe only has a handful of ingredients, but here are a few possible substitutions!

overhead view of the labeled ingredients in this Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette) recipe

Pomegranate seeds. You can use pomegranate juice to make this recipe, and then there would be no blending required. However I love the nutrients added from using whole seeds!
Olive oil. Any neutral oil works well in this recipe. I recommend avocado oil or canola oil if you don’t have olive oil.
Maple syrup. The maple flavor really adds to the fall/winer taste of this dressing, however you can substitute honey with great results.
White balsamic vinegar. Regular balsamic vinegar tastes great in this recipe too, however the color will change if you use a dark balsamic. Apple cider vinegar also tastes great.
Dijon mustard. Substitute your favorite mustard, but please don’t leave it out. The mustard acts as an emulsifier and keeps the dressing from separating!

How to Easily De-Seed a Pomegranate

a bowl of pomegranate seeds to make Pomegranate Dressing

Pomegranates are our favorite winter produce item, we literally buy cases of them at eat them in days. I am well aware that the thing that keeps most people from buying pomegranates is how much work they are to deseed.

Well this video called The Fastest Way to De-Seed a Pomegranate changed my life. I literally can have 6 large pomegranates ready to eat in under 10 minutes thanks to this method!

overhead view of a jar of pomegranate dressing

How to Make Homemade Pomegranate Vinaigrette

This pomegranate dressing recipe is very easy to make Just place the ingredients in the container of your Vitamix (or other high powered blender) and blend until smooth. Using a Vitaimx ensures a silky-smooth dressing.

overhead photo showing how to make Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette)

NOTE: The only thing to note is that it’s important to add the liquid ingredients first, then the rest for easy blending.

Pour Into a Jar/Serving Container

Once you have finished blending the pomegranate salad dressing, transfer it from the blending container to a glass storage or serving container. I love this salad dressing bottle – I use it all the time. But any glass or ceramic vessel works well

Store

If you don’t plan on using the pomegranate dressing right away, or have leftovers, store it in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe.

pomegranate dressing being poured from a blending container into a glass jar

Serve

Serve this pomegranate vinaigrette on top of your favorite salad! Here are some suggestions:

Try it on this burrata salad.
For the perfect winter salad use this pomegranate dressing on this Brussel Sprout Salad.
Make your own homemade croutons to dress up whatever salad you make! Also try these cornbread croutons.
For another use of pomegranates, this beet and pomegranate smoothie is a nutritional powerhouse.

Pomegranate Vinaigrette Recipe FAQs

Why should you make homemade salad dressing?

Salad dressing is a condiment that I always make at home because it’s easy and so much healthier than store-bought varieties. You exactly what is in your dressings (and can pronounce all the ingredients).
This Pomegranate Vinaigrette is packed full of nutrition, which adds to the health benefits of enjoying a hearty winter salad rather than negating some of them with processed ingredients.

Are pomegranates good for you?

Yes, they are one of the healthiest foods you can eat. Pomegranates are loaded with fiber and antioxidants, both of which have amazing health properties. This is why I chose to create a pomegranate dressing using the whole seeds instead of just juice (even though the juice is still nutritious as well).

How long does pomegranate dressing last?

This recipe lasts for 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator.

overhead view of a salad dressing with Pomegranate Dressing (Pomegranate Vinaigrette)

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