Sherry Shallot Dressing

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Sherry Shallot Dressing is delicious on a salad, raw vegetables (such as cucumbers), or as a marinade for chicken or fish!

Have you ever been to McAlister’s Deli? We have one here in town and I happened to notice that they have something called “sherry shallot” dressing.  I was immediately intrigued and wanted to give it a try! 

It was pretty much everything I’d hoped for: sweet, tangy, addicting.  Totally delicious, versatile, and perfect on any salad - from bbq chicken to a classic chef.

Jump to:

• 🥣 Ingredients + substitutions
• The process
• Variations
• Storage + leftovers
• FAQs
• Related Recipes
• Sherry Shallot Dressing
• Let's connect?

🥣 Ingredients + substitutions

Let’s talk about the ingredients, the only thing that you may not have in your pantry is the Sherry Vinegar, but you can pick it up at any grocery store.

Or order it online right here. 

• Olive oil - this will be the base of your dressing.  I like to use a quality olive oil for homemade dressings, but you can use any neutral-tasting oil (such as rapeseed, canola, vegetable, etc.). 
• Sherry vinegar - which is made from sherry wine, has a mild, nutty, and slightly sweet taste.  It’s mildly acidic, which makes it perfect for salad dressings and marinades!
• Dijon mustard - this adds a zingy flavor and helps to thicken and emulsify the dressing. 
• Shallot - very much a nice middle ground between garlic and onion.  It has a mild, but sweet garlicky flavor, without the boldness of an onion.  
• Lemon juice - for a touch of acidity and brightness.  Shallots and lemon juice go together like peanut butter and jelly <3. 
• Honey - to sweeten, thicken, and emulsify. 
• Oregano - for herbaceous flavor. 
• Italian seasoning - for more flavor! You can certainly customize here and use more oregano, thyme, rosemary, or even fresh parsley.  
• Kosher salt + pepper - just a pinch for flavor and then you can add more to taste to suit your preferences. 

The process

The easiest way to make this dressing is to simply gather all of your ingredients and shake them in a mason jar until combined.

This is a dressing, so of course the ingredients will separate, before each serving, give the jar a good shake.

Variations

• Tarragon Sherry Shallot Vinaigrette - add 1 tsp of fresh tarragon instead of the oregano and Italian seasoning. Or just do ½ tsp of dry tarragon instead of the oregano and Italian. 
• Sherry Shallot Balsamic Vinaigrette - add 2 tbsp of sherry vinegar and 1 tbsp of balsamic.  This will give you a delicious, unique dressing or marinade.

Storage + leftovers

You can store the dressing in a mason jar or an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days (assuming none of your ingredients are about to expire). 

FAQs

What does sherry shallot dressing taste like?
It’s mild, bright, and not overly acidic. Further, it’s slightly nutty and a touch sweet. It’s perfect on salads and as a marinade.  Or as a dipping sauce for cooked meats! 

Does sherry vinegar/vinaigrette have alcohol?
A trace amount. Sherry vinegar is made from sherry wine, and wine contains alcohol.  But during the vinegar-making process, the booze is converted into acetic acid during fermentation.  So, while sherry vinegar may be made from sherry, the finished vinegar typically contains only trace amounts of alcohol (less than 0.5%).  

What is sherry vinegar made of?
Sherry vinegar is made of sherry wine.  It’s converted into acetic acid during fermentation, leaving you with sherry vinegar rather than wine.   

Is there a difference between aged sherry vinegar and regular sherry vinegar?
Yes, there is a difference, here are a few of them: 
Aging process - aged sherry vinegar has more time to develop and intensify in the flavor profile department.  
Flavor - again, because of the aging process, aged sherry vinegar tends to taste more pronounced and complex.  It might even have some nuances of wood from the barrels it is aged in, and a smoother taste.  
Price - aged sherry vinegar will likely be a little more expensive than the younger versions.  You can expect to pay between 4-15 dollars at a typical grocery store.  

Is aged sherry vinegar better for making salad dressings and vinaigrettes?
Yes, 100%! If you can swing it, definitely get the aged sherry vinegar for this recipe!

Related Recipes

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