Prepare a delicious sherry shallot dressing using a handful of simple ingredients. The salad dressing is perfect for fresh greens and grilled vegetables, or use it as a marinade for chicken and seafood. And it pairs perfectly with my McCalister’s Deli Savannah chopped salad copycat!
What is Sherry Shallot Dressing?
Sherry shallot dressing is a flavorful and tangy dressing that combines the sweetness of sherry vinegar with the rich, onion-like taste of fresh shallots.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Shallot: Shallots are sweeter than onions and add so much flavor.
- Garlic: I suggest using two garlic cloves, but measure with your heart.
- Sherry Vinegar: Sherry vinegar is rich, nutty, and slightly sweet – making it a perfect addition to salad dressings. Use red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar as a substitute.
- Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds creaminess and works as an emulsifier.
- Honey: Incorporate honey to balance the sharpness of the shallots.
- Spices: Add salt and black pepper to the sherry shallot dressing.
- Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil to thicken the vinaigrette.
Tools You’ll Need
You can use an immersion blender, food processor, or high-speed blender to make the creamy vinaigrette. However, I highly recommend using an immersion blender when making salad dressings or sauces that require emulsification.
Use the blender cup provided with the immersion blender, a wide-mouth jar, or one of these meal prep containers to ensure the blender works properly. Transfer the leftover dressing to an airtight container or Mason jar.
How to Make Sherry Shallot Dressing
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Peel, cut, and mince the garlic. Transfer it to a tall cup or high-speed blender.
Step 2: Add the sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, kosher salt, and black pepper. Then, use an immersion blender, food processor, or blender to combine.
Step 3: Pour the oil into the cup or blender in a slow, steady stream, a little at a time, while blending or whisking until smooth. .
Expert Tips
- Add sherry vinegar or olive oil, a little at a time, until the dressing has a pourable consistency.
- I recommend blending the ingredients, tasting, and adjusting the salt and pepper until you find the perfect flavor.
Tips for Emulsification
What is Emulsification?
Emulsification describes combining ingredients that do not naturally mix, such as oil and vinegar, and making them stay together using an emulsifier.
What is an Emulsifier?
An emulsifier acts like a bridge between two opposing ingredients, holding them together in a smooth, stable mixture. The best emulsifiers contain water and oil-friendly properties to help the ingredients combine. The most common emulsifiers include egg yolks, mustard, mayonnaise, soybeans, honey, and xanthan gum.
How to Create a Stable Emulsification
If you want to learn how to make homemade vinaigrette, dressing, hollandaise sauce, aioli, or mayonnaise, then learning how to create a stable emulsification is key. Plus, it’s easier than you think!
- Choose an Emulsifier: Select an emulsifying ingredient based on what you are making.
- Combine the Ingredients: Mix the water-based ingredients, such as vinegar or lemon juice with an emulsifier.
- Slowly Add Oil: Add a few drops, then pour the oil gradually in a slow, steady stream while whisking or blending the ingredients. The gradual addition helps to achieve a stable emulsion (so the two liquids combine instead of separate).
- Adjust the Consistency: If the mixture gets too thick, add more water-based liquid to thin it out while continuing to mix.
If you enjoy sherry shallot dressing, try more homemade salad dressings!
Serving Suggestions
Replace the dressing on any salad with sherry shallot dressing. Here are some of my favorite salad recipes to pair it with:
- Cucumber Carrot Salad
- Vegetable Chopped Salad
- Moroccan Carrot Salad
- Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Fall Kale Salad
- Gluten Free Pasta Salad
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftover vinaigrette in an airtight container for one week. The dressing will thicken in the refrigerator because of the oil. That’s okay! Remove the vinaigrette from the fridge 30 minutes before you serve. Then, shake the container or give it a good stir.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does sherry shallot dressing taste like?
The dressing has sweet undertones from the sherry vinegar, and the shallots provide a mild and sweet flavor with a hint of garlic flavor.
Sherry Shallot Dressing
- Airtight Container or Mason Jar
- 1 medium shallot, finely minced
- 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Peel, cut, and mince the garlic. Transfer it to a tall cup or high-speed blender.
- Add the sherry vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, kosher salt, and black pepper. Then, use an immersion blender, food processor, or blender to combine.
- Pour the oil into the cup or blender in a slow, steady stream, a little at a time, while blending or whisking until smooth. .
- Add sherry vinegar or olive oil, a little at a time, until the dressing has a pourable consistency.
- I recommend blending the ingredients, tasting, and adjusting the salt and pepper until you find the perfect flavor.
Jane
Friday 6th of October 2023
This recipe uses way too much Dijon for my taste. My first taste after making it was all Dijon. I was looking for something close to McAlister's sherry shallot and this was not even close. I added about 1 tablespoon more of honey to hopefully calm down the mustard flavor. We'll see. It's now in the refrigerator. By the way, I knew there was no way for a 2 tablespoon service would be 222 calories. I came up with 60.
Tressa Jamil
Friday 6th of October 2023
I try really hard to create recipes everyone loves, and I am sorry my recipe for sherry shallot dressing misses the mark for you. I appreciate your input and will carefully consider everything you've shared.
About the nutrition information, you are absolutely correct. The software I was using didn't work properly, but I have updated it in the post.
Alli
Monday 25th of September 2023
Tastes like straight onion …
Tressa Jamil
Monday 25th of September 2023
While I haven't had that experience with this dressing, I am sorry the flavor was a miss for you. May I ask what kind of a salad you put it on?
Ethan
Friday 26th of May 2023
I couldn't agree more with Julia! This sherry shallot dressing has become a staple in my kitchen too. Highly recommended!
Tressa Jamil
Monday 25th of September 2023
I am happy you have found a new go-to salad dressing. Thank you for your kind words.
Julia
Friday 26th of May 2023
This sherry shallot dressing is a game-changer for my salads! The combination of sherry and shallots creates a tangy and flavorful dressing that perfectly complements fresh greens and grilled veggies. It's so simple to make, yet adds a gourmet touch to any dish. A new favorite in my kitchen!
Tressa Jamil
Monday 25th of September 2023
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the shallot sherry dressing recipe. Nothing makes me happier than knowing my recipes add flavor to someones kitchedn. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Emma
Thursday 13th of October 2022
Sweet, but not too sweet.
Tressa Jamil
Thursday 13th of October 2022
The flavors are pretty balanced, and that's what I love about it.