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Vanilla Fig Dressing with Balsamic Vinegar- a delicious vegan salad dressing recipe, perfect for fall salads.
In my dream, the angel shrugged and said, if we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination and then she placed the world gently in the palm of my hand. ―
This Vanilla Fig Salad Dressing makes me happy in two ways. First, it’s just delicious. Plain and simple. Total yum….. especially paired with fall salads that need a little sweetness- like Apple salads or this Pear Salad.
Second, it’s a great way to use up fig jam. If you are a cheese platter kind of person (like me), it’s more than likely you have an open jar of fig jam in your fridge ( and if you don’t, you need to!). This recipe takes full advantage of that.
It’s ridiculously easy and you’ll love it. I promise. The vanilla is divine here.
Ingredients in Fig Dressing
- Olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- vanilla
- fig jam
- salt and pepper
- garlic clove- optional ( or sub shallot)
How to make Vanilla Fig Dressing
Simply whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
The dressing will keep 10 days in the fridge.
More Recipes you may like:
- Pear Gorgonzola Salad with Vanilla Fig Dressing
- Pomegranate Vinaigrette
- Miso Dressing
- Greek Salad Dressing
- Spirulina Dressing
- Italian Dressing
- Peanut Dressing

Vanilla Fig Dressing
- Prep Time: 7
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: ⅓. cup 1x
- Category: dressings, salad dressing
- Method: whisked
- Cuisine: american
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Vanilla Fig Dressing- a delicious fall-inspired dressing perfect for fall salads, pear salads or apple salads. Vegan and Gluten-free.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fig jam
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/4 –1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 garlic clove, (optional) finely minced, or sub 1 tablespoon finely minced shallot
Instructions
Whisk all ingredients together – olive oil, balsamic vinegar, vanilla, fig jam, salt pepper, and optional garlic clove, in a small bowl, taking care to break up all the jam bits.
Taste, if you prefer it sweeter, add more fig jam to taste. Add more salt to taste.
Makes 1/3 cup. Enough to coat 5 ounces of salad greens. I usually make a double batch.
Notes
Store in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 83
- Sugar: 3.7 g
- Sodium: 197.8 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 5.5 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 0.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: fig dressing, vanilla fig dressing, balsamic fig dressing,
It seems a little salty and not as sweet as I’d expected. I would use less salt and maybe a sweeter balsamic vinegar if I made it again.
★★
Hummmm, sorry about that Leslie- did you use fig jam?
Best salad ever!! Pear salad with vanilla fig dressing is perfection! Dates and apples can be substituted in a pinch.
Thanks Ann! Glad you liked it!
I’ve made this dressing multiple times over the last year and have loved it every time. It’s so easy to make and turns any salad in to something special. I definitely recommend.
★★★★★
thanks Lisa!
Wonderful flavors! Better than restaurant salads! Everyone will love this special dressing.
★★★★★
Thanks Janet!
Would strawberry jam work in this recipe? If I use dried figs with sweetener added would that work?
I think either would work. If using dried figs- if they are really dry- maybe soak in hot water to soften first.
Recipes depend upon dedication,without dedication, tasty food can never be made.
Can you use something else then fig jam? i.e. another type of jam or fresh figs?
Another type of jam should work fine. Fresh figs won’t have enough sweetness here. Dried figs may work, reconstituted, and you may need to add honey or maple to balance the vinegar.
Fabulous.salad dressing. My sister made the Pear Gorgonzola Salad w/ Fig dressing last week. Since then I’ve made it two more times. Welcome to the Holidays!
★★★★★
Glad you like this one Cindy!
Loved this dressing. Excited to have a dressing that’s a bit different.
★★★★★
Thanks Mary- yes it is kind of fun! Glad you enjoyed!
Thank you Sylia, for this easy and delicious dressing recipe..
LOVE IT!
Thanks Barbara!
I made this and had it with the salad you suggested (arugula, pear, pecans and gorgonzola). It’s outstanding! I will use the rest on grilled chicken tomorrow night.
★★★★★
Perfect and happy this worked for you!
Can this be made without the oil?
I’m not sure? You could try Linda, and maybe replace with water?
Made this last night – a little nervous it might be too weird for the family, but everyone loved it :). Thank you.
★★★★★
Great to hear Rhonda!
I made this dressing using homemade fig jam from our own fig trees. I put it on a salad of arugula, sliced pear and pecans. The dressing was amazing. Thanks for the recipe.
★★★★★
Perfect David! I love that you have your own fig tree.
Made it just now to throw on a kale apple salad and maybe drizzle over some sweet potato hummus on toast – it’s delicious!! You’re so right about cheese plate lovers having that opened jar of fog spread in their fridge! So glad recipe to transform one of my favorite spreads into something else delicious and useful!
★★★★★
Thanks Samantha! Glad this worked for you!