This Apricot Dressing recipe is sweet with just a hint of spice. These curried apricot preserves can be dolloped on a leafy green salad with goat cheese and pecans, or used as the perfect sauce for a chicken sandwich. Once you start making homemade salad dressing, you'll never go back to store-bought!
Made in under 5-minutes with a food processor or immersion blender!
This simple salad dressing is perfect for summer barbecues and quick weeknight meals. It pairs well with pork, chicken and fish dishes. It can even be used as a light dressing for a fruit salad with mixed berries!
The next time you are in the mood for a sandwich, make it fancy! Get a thick slice of baguette and chop up some juicy air-fryer chicken breasts. Top it with a soft cheese like goat or mozzarella and fresh baby greens. Dollop the apricot dressing on top, and you've got a gourmet meal!
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To make this recipe easier for you to follow, I've broken it down into bite-sized pieces and included a helpful jump-to table of contents (below) and a jump-to recipe button (located at the top of this post). Take what you need, and please don't feel bad about skipping the rest. I hope this helps!
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Ingredients
- apricot preserves
- minced red onion
- curry powder
- red wine vinegar
- salt
- pepper
- large lemon
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Pour the jar of preserves, minced onion, curry powder, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and juice of one lemon into a blender.
Pulse until very smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Hint: Save the jar the preserves came in and use it to store your dressing in the refrigerator! If you eat a portion right as you make it (or is it just me who cooks that way?), you'll have just the right amount for the jar!
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Recipe
Apricot Dressing
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 1 jar apricot preserves
- 3 tablespoons red onion minced
- 1 lemon large, juiced
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Pour the jar of preserves, minced onion, curry powder, red wine vinegar, salt, pepper and juice of one lemon into a blender.
- Pulse until very smooth. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
VARIATIONS
This is a super simple recipe. Feel free to dress it up or down, depending on your taste!- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes
- Sweet - add a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of ground cinnamon
- Kid friendly - substitute a teaspoon of onion powder for the red onion to hide the source of the flavor from picky eaters. Warning, the mild onion powder isn't as delicious as the spicy kick of a fresh red onion. It's a trade off scenario.
STORAGE
Store the Apricot Dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.Nutrition
Variations
This is a super simple recipe. Feel free to dress it up or down, depending on your taste!
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes
- Sweet - add a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of ground cinnamon
- Kid friendly - substitute a teaspoon of onion powder for the red onion to hide the source of the flavor from picky eaters. Warning, the mild onion powder isn't as delicious as the spicy kick of a fresh red onion. It's a trade off scenario.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. This recipe can be made simply with some fancy knife skills and a mason jar. But when you toss the ingredients in the blender and pulse them a few times, the flavors truly combine!
I have a Vitamix blender that has been a workhorse in our kitchen for the past nine years. It was a baby gift from my mom when we welcomed our third boy. She knew I was in to making fresh fruit and veggie smoothies, plus she thought it would be helpful for making homemade baby food. While the baby food season is long gone, I still use it daily for smoothies, sauces, soups and even crumbling blocks of cheese to avoid the cheese grater. I'm linking this Vitamix model that is similar to the one I have.
When I made this dressing tonight, I actually made it in a tall wide-mouthed mason jar and used an emersion blender to puree it.
Substitutions
If you make your own apricot preserves, that is WONDERFUL! At the time of writing this blog post, I currently am not. Apricots aren't a fruit that grows well in my gardening zone, so I rarely have enough to make jams or jellies. Goals, though! We do have two small apricot plants that are still just under four feet tall. Maybe we will harvest fruit next year?!
substitute for apricot preserves
Here is a link to my friend Jessica's website, A Farmgirl's Kitchen. She is my mentor for all thinks canning and preserving. Her recipe for Raspberry Peach Jam would be an excellent homemade substitute for the apricot preserves if you want to go the homemade route. While you are visiting her site, take a look at her Mixed Berry Jam, too!
This recipe could be made with any fruit preserves you have available. I've made it with strawberry preserves and it was very sweet and delicious. For this substitution, I would recommend making a leafy green salad and adding thinly sliced red onions, sugared pecan pieces, feta or goat cheese, fresh strawberries and blueberries and serve it with thinly sliced chicken breasts and a wedge of baguette bread.
If you want to keep the bright sunny color of this apricot dressing, but don't have access to apricots, try using an orange marmalade. It's very similar in color and texture, but the flavor is a little brighter. Peach preserves would also work well!
For more simple salad ideas, check out my Seasonal Summer Salads blog post!
Storage
Store the Apricot Dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Top tip
This Apricot Dressing will make your foods feel like they are from a gourmet restaurant! It goes great on sandwiches, salads, crackers with cream cheese, fruit salads, and even as a drizzle for grilled meats. Let your creativity run wild!
FAQ
Homemade dressings generally have a shorter shelf life than store-bought ones since they lack preservatives. As a general rule, lemon-based dressings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 1 to 2 weeks. However, it's always essential to use your judgment and check for any signs of spoilage, like an off odor or texture changes, before using leftover dressing.
Freezing salad dressing is not recommended as it can lead to changes in texture and flavor. Homemade dressings that contain ingredients like onion, may not freeze well and could become bitter or lose their freshness upon thawing. Additionally, the emulsion in the dressing might break during the freezing and thawing process, resulting in an undesirable separation. It's best to make only as much dressing as you need for immediate or short-term use to ensure the best taste and quality.
10 ways to use homemade dressing
- Apricot Glazed Chicken Salad: Marinate grilled or roasted chicken in the apricot dressing and serve it over a bed of mixed greens, avocado slices, and toasted almonds for a flavorful and refreshing salad.
- Curry Quinoa Bowl: Drizzle the apricot dressing over cooked quinoa, chickpeas, roasted vegetables, and fresh herbs for a nourishing and exotic quinoa bowl.
- Apricot-Glazed Salmon: Brush the dressing over salmon fillets and bake them to perfection. Serve with steamed asparagus or green beans for a scrumptious and healthy dinner.
- Tropical Fruit Skewers: Use the apricot dressing as a glaze for fruit skewers featuring pineapple chunks, mango, and strawberries. Grill or broil them for a fantastic dessert or appetizer option.
- Apricot and Red Onion Flatbread: Spread the apricot dressing over flatbread or naan, top with sautéed red onions, goat cheese, and arugula, then bake until the cheese melts for a delectable flatbread pizza.
- Curry Chicken Wraps: Toss shredded cooked chicken in apricot dressing, add diced red onions, and wrap it in a tortilla with fresh greens and cucumber slices for a quick and tasty lunch.
- Apricot-Glazed Brussels Sprouts: Roast Brussels sprouts with a drizzle of apricot dressing and curry powder for a sweet and savory side dish.
- Apricot Vinaigrette Pasta Salad: Mix the dressing with cooked pasta, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumbers, and feta cheese for a delightful pasta salad with a tangy twist.
- Grilled Apricot Glazed Pork Chops: Use the dressing to glaze grilled pork chops, adding a burst of flavor that pairs perfectly with the meat's richness.
- Apricot Curry Rice: Stir the dressing into cooked rice, along with chopped dried apricots, toasted almonds, and green onions for a delightful side dish that complements a variety of main courses.
If you love salads, try these next!
Looking for more recipes like this? I've got you covered!
What's a salad without a good crusty bread?
These are a few bread recipes and guides for baking bread. These would be good to serve with Apricot Dressing! Use it as a dipping sauce, dressing or just serve it alongside for a comforting carb load.
Jessica Robinson
This dressing is incredible! So flavorful, super easy to make and delicious over a grilled chicken salad. I'm loving the flavor!