Creamy Cranberry-Ginger Balsamic Vinaigrette

You know how your taste buds crave a sweet after some savory? And something savory after a sweet? Well, after indulging in my Thanksgiving feast, my taste buds crave . . . salad! Lots of salad! (As it turns out, I don’t then immediately crave Thanksgiving foods. Phew!)

So without further ado, my taste buds and I would like to present this super yummy, creamy salad dressing recipe. It’s absolutely divine and might just need to become a staple in your fridge. I’m always relieved when I remember that I have this dressing on hand when I do some last minute, weekend entertaining!

This dressing will be perfect with the Winter Persimmon Salad recipe I’m going to share with you tomorrow!

Creamy Cranberry-Ginger Balsamic Vinaigrette

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Makes 1 cup

Creamy Cranberry-Ginger Balsamic Vinaigrette

Recipe

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon dried cranberries

1 tablespoon honey

2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated

1 tablespoon orange juice

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar with the cranberries and honey. Let it sit until the cranberries become soft, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the ginger, orange juice, salt and olive oil. Then, use an immersion or standing blender until a creamy consistency is reached. Season to taste with the pepper and a bit more salt if desired. Let the vinaigrette come to room temperature before serving or use it slightly chilled.

http://cookingontheweekends.com/2011/11/creamy-cranberry-ginger-balsamic-vinaigrette/

Timeline:
Up to 2 weeks and at least 20 minutes ahead of time: Make the vinaigrette.
If you make the vinaigrette ahead of time, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It may be necessary to warm it up a bit.