Basil Mint Dressing

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This easy recipe for Basil Mint Dressing is full of sweet and peppery basil, refreshing mint, and tart lemon. This homemade herb dressing is excellent to have on hand to brighten up salads and use as a dip or marinade for your favorite protein.

Basil Mint Dressing on a salad

My friend Andie, who eats a salad every day, motivates me to eat more salads. Maybe not every single day but I have salads for lunch at least five days a week. I’ve found that the key to making this sustainable is rarely having the same exact salad, so I keep my salad topping options well-stocked and I always make my own dressing.

This basil mint dressing is -hands down, my favorite salad dressing right now. It is full of basil, mint, and lemon and a great way to add bright and fresh flavor to just about any salad. It’s also fantastic as a marinade on chicken and seafood or served as a simple dip with crusty bread.

Make this basil mint dressing once and you’ll never reach for a store-bought bottle of basil mint salad dressing or marinade again. Enjoy!

ingredients for basil mint dressing

Ingredients

  • Fresh Herbs: Mint and Basil – This combination of fresh herbs is cool and refreshing.
  • Garlic Clove –  adds a fresh garlic flavor.
  • Salt & Pepper –  Balances and enhances all of the flavors in the dressing. 
  • Lemon Zest & Juice – helps add vibrant citrus flavor.
  • Honey – balances all of the contrasting flavors with just a touch of sweetness.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – makes up the base of the dressing and holds all of the flavors well.

How to Make – The Steps

ingredients for basil mint dressing in a blender

Step 1: Prep lemon.

Using a sharp knife and a lemon zester, zest, and juice the lemon. Set it aside.

Step 2: Chop herbs and garlic:

Add mint, basil, garlic, and salt, and pepper to a food processor. Pulse to chop the herbs and garlic finely.

Step 3: Add liquid:

Next, add lemon juice and honey and pulse again to combine. Then, slowly pour the olive oil in through the feeder tube while blending until the dressing is smooth and well-combined.

Step 4: Store and serve:

Pour the dressing into a jar or glass container with a well-fitted lid and stir in the lemon zest. Last but not least, make yourself a beautiful salad tossed with the best dressing ever.

blended ingredients for basil mint dressing with lemon zest on top

Tips & Tricks

  • Give your basil mint dressing a taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
  • If you like a sweeter dressing, add more honey or agave.
  • If you prefer a dressing that is more tart, add more lemon juice or other citrus flavors.
  • Before serving each time, vigorously shake the closed dressing container until all of the ingredients are recombined evenly.
  • In addition to basil and mint, feel free to add more fresh herbs like fresh parsley and dill for additional fresh herb flavor.
basil mint dressing on a salad beside a laptop

Why is Basil Mint Dressing So Good?

  • Making salad dressing from scratch is super quick and easy.
  • Homemade salad dressing means no scary ingredients.
  • Great way to use up fresh basil and fresh mint
  • Doubles as a marinade and sauce for meat, seafood, and vegetables.
Basil Mint Dressing on a salad

How to Serve Basil Mint Dressing

Make this quick and easy dressing to add a burst of fresh herbs and citrus flavor to just about anything. Replace the listed dressing in the following recipes with basil mint dressing:

Basil Mint Dressing on a salad

How to Store

Storing: Keep homemade dressing refrigerated in a glass container with a tight-fitted lid for up to 5 days. Shake the container before using it again.

Make-Ahead and Freezer Options

Freezing: Freezing olive oil dressings is not recommended as they tend to separate and not freeze completely.

More Dressing and Dip Recipes

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Buffalo Blue Cheese Dip

Yogurt Herb Dipping Sauce

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Basil Mint Dressing

bakedbree
4.57 from 16 votes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil
  • 1 garlic clove
  • salt and pepper
  • zest from one lemon
  • juice from one lemon
  • 1-2 Tablespoons honey
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Add mint, basil, garlic clove, salt and pepper to a food processor. Pulse until the leaves are chopped.
  • Zest lemon and set zest aside. Add lemon juice and honey and pulse again.
  • Slowly pour the oil through the feeder tube with the machine running. Pour into a bowl and stir in lemon zest. Taste and check for seasoning.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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