Homemade Mango Vinaigrette Recipe (2024)

Published: May 15, 2015 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

This homemade mango vinaigrette recipe has a creamy texture and a balanced sweet and spicy flavor profile. It only requires 5 ingredients, and it whips up in just 10 minutes! It'll jazz up salad greens and also makes a delicious sauce for tacos, grilled chicken, and seafood.

One of my favorite things about moving to a new place and exploring the area is checking out the local restaurants.

You know, seeing who has the best coffee and where I can grab a quick lunch on the go. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. ;)

Mike and I found this adorable little Indian café and bakery so incredibly close to our house (it’s literally a stone’s throw away), and immediately wondered if it was too good to be true. We put off going for a while, and even checked out a couple other Indian restaurants first. Those other places were ok at best. But when we finally took a look at that little café/bakery so close to home? A total win.

Not only do they have both of our favorites (Chicken Makhani for me and Tandoori Lamb for Mike). But also, the Mango Lassis are to die for and the ambiance is charming. And every meal comes with a simple salad of spring mix (no boring Iceberg lettuce here!) served with a sweet and spicy mango vinaigrette that they make in-house.

I have two things to say about that vinaigrette: 1) suddenly Butter Chicken seems a lot healthier if I eat it with a big salad, and 2) forget the Mango Lassi – that vinaigrette is the sort of thing I could drink.

No not really, but I do love it enough to have asked twice about whether or not they’re planning to start selling it by the bottle. Of course that was after the waitress very sweetly told me that the cook refused to share the recipe with me, lol.

I made it my job to replicate that dressing because the world needs it. That might sound a little dramatic, but tell me that again after you’ve tried it.

And take note, this vinaigrette is very forgiving. Use a very ripe mango for best flavor. However, an extra splash of vinegar or drizzle of honey will compensate for any discrepancies in personal taste and/or ripeness.

The Best Mango Vinaigrette Recipe

Ingredients in Mango Salad Dressing

• Fresh mango - look for a very ripe mango for the most intense flavor
• Water - to thin out the salad dressing to the right consistency
• Extra-virgin olive oil - every vinaigrette needs oil + vinegar to achieve the right flavor and texture
• Honey - adds sweetness that pairs really well with mango, but you could also use maple syrup or agave nectar to make a vegan salad dressing
• Apple cider vinegar - vinegar is a necessary component of vinaigrette; it provides acid and helps create a balanced flavor profile
• Crushed red pepper flakes - for just a hint of spicy flavor to counterbalance the sweetness
• Salt and black pepper - to season the salad dressing

How to Make This Mango Vinaigrette Recipe

1. Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and process until completely smooth.
2. Taste and adjust seasonings (vinegar, honey, and salt) as desired.

Storage

Homemade mango vinaigrette keeps well stored in a glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Give the jar a quick shake before using.

Mango Vinaigrette Recipe FAQs

What is Vinaigrette Made Of?

A vinaigrette has two main ingredients: oil and vinegar. The typical ratio of these ingredients is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.

Which Vinegar is Best for Vinaigrette?

You can use any number of different types of vinegar to make vinaigrette. Fruity, pungent, tangy vinegars are perfect for making vinaigrette. Apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, and white wine vinegar are all great choices.

If you don't have apple cider vinegar on hand for this mango vinaigrette recipe, white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or lemon juice all work well here.

How Do You Stabilize a Vinaigrette?

We all know that oil and water don't mix, right? Well, in order to make a smooth (aka emulsified) vinaigrette where the oil and vinegar are well mixed, we need to add an emulsifier.

Here are a few emulsifiers that help stabilize salad dressing and prevent it from separating:

• Dijon mustard
• Egg yolk
• Mayonnaise
• Honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar
• Tahini paste, peanut butter, or other seed or nut butters
• Tomato paste
• Creamy fruits, such as avocado or mango

In this mango vinaigrette recipe, we use honey and mango as our emulsifying ingredients. The end result is a creamy and smooth salad dressing!

More Easy Salad Dressing Recipes to Make

• Best Salad Dressing - if you're looking for a new favorite all-purpose salad dressing, this one is well named; it is literally the best salad dressing!
• Roasted Garlic Salad Dressing - garlic mellows as it roasts and takes on a sweet and slightly nutty flavor, which is incredible as the base flavor in this dressing
• Maple Tahini Dressing - this homemade vegan salad dressing hits all the right flavor notes, with a delicious umami base

Let's Connect

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

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