This Blueberry Pecan Balsamic Vinaigrette is another quick, simple recipe. After the overwhelming response I received to these Southwest Sweet Potato Lettuce Wraps, in light of my initial hesitations and concerns that it wasn’t “good enough”, I now humbly realize that people like simple. Especially when simple can also be healthy!
So why is I am somehow surprised? As much as I want to help others incorporate clean eating into their daily lives and show them the delight it brings; why, in the back of my head, do I still feel the need to impress people with something a little more complex? I suppose it’s the pressure to “win you over”. But if I ponder the people I am most attracted to, the ones I undoubtedly gravitate towards, it’s always those who make me feel comfortable. Free to be me. No need to impress or compete, nothing to prove.
Maybe the same applies here and with our food. Because I too crave simple, easy, achievable…whatever you wish to call it. I don’t even have kids and I feel pulled in a million directions! I can only imagine how I’ll yearn for simple once there are sweet little ones running around, demanding my attention. There are enough complicated and complex things in life to juggle without adding breakfast, lunch and dinner to the list. And the beautiful thing is that simple and healthy, does not have to be boring or bland!
So with my newfound confidence, I intend on embracing the simple, and hope to keep that in mind at every turn when developing, adapting, and publishing recipes for you and your family.
Now, I suppose you might be thinking “making my own salad dressing is not nearly as easy as buying a salad dressing”. And the truth is, you’re right. But seriously, this took less than five minutes to blend these lovely ingredients together and it immediately turned this simple salad into a bit more, shall we say thoughtful, or perhaps impressive dinner {to impress your husband, not your friends, we just discussed that!}
And aside from the ease in which it comes together, you’ve also cut out some of the unnecessary and unhealthy ingredients often found in store-bought dressings such as artificial flavorings, food enhancers, artificial sweeteners, and thickening gums, not to mention all the preservatives. Salad dressings are typically created to have a long shelf life, the longer the shelf life, the more the preservatives!
And if that’s not reason enough, I haven’t come across any store-bought salad dressing quite like this one. The sweet, yet slightly tart flavor of the blueberries, combined with the nuttiness of the pecans, sweetness of the maple syrup and salted creaminess of the feta cheese creates a dressing with a powerful punch that beautifully compliments any fruit-filled salad!
Blueberry Pecan Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup blueberries fresh or thawed
- 2 tbsp pecan halves
- 1 tbsp roasted walnut oil sub with olive oil if needed
- 1 tbsp red apple balsamic vinegar or other fruit flavored balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 ounce feta cheese add more for extra creaminess
- juice of one lemon
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to NutriBullet, food processor or blender, then blend until smooth, creamy consistency is achieved.
- Store in refrigerator up to one week.
Nutrition
Isadora @ she likes food says
I feel the same way too sometimes, that I need to have super complicated dishes or else I don’t feel like I’m being creative enough. But I’ve found that most of the time, simpler is better, easier, and tastes amazing. This salad dressing is so bright and colorful and sounds delicious! I recently started making my own salad dressing and I don’t think I’ll ever buy it from the store again. It is so easy, much healthier, and tastes better than most dressings I could buy. I really can’t stop looking at this salad, it is so beautiful :)
Kaylee Pauley says
Thank you Isadora for your comment! It always amazes me that people actually take time to read the posts, means so very very much to me! And of course, it undoubtedly comforts me that I’m not alone in my inner “food blogging struggles”! :) Thanks for the kind words and encouragement, Happy Memorial Day!