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    Home / Recipes / Sauces, Dips & Dressings

    Citrus Dressing for Salads

    Published: May 1, 2025 · Modified: May 1, 2025 by Kathy Carmichael · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Citrus dressing for salads is a light and fresh dressing made with few ingredients and a fabulous citrus taste. Perfect for any salad, this citrus salad dressing recipe is ready in 5 minutes!

    Citrus dressing recipe in a bowl with a spoon on the counter.

    I love to experiment with new dressings whenever I make a new salad recipe. Since summer is coming to an end, I often add fresh fruits and vegetables for a summery-tasting salad. This citrus dressing recipe for salads is a blend of freshly squeezed citrus and a few other magic ingredients. Of course, my citrus dressing recipe is oil-free and delicious.

    Jump to:
    • Dressing Ingredients
    • Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
    • Suggested Salad Recipes
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Tips
    • Great Vegan Salads to Try
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews

    Since oranges and lemons are beautiful and vibrant this time of year, I chose to use a combination of both. That said, fresh juice is always better than bottles of juice. So, I juice my lemons and oranges. In a pinch, bottled juice works, but fresh juice is simply fresh, without any added sugars or preservatives. 

    Again, simple, clean ingredients are always the goal when making a great dressing. But taste, texture, and flavor are just as important. I love dressing, and citrus dressing for salads is one of my favorites. It's so good I could drink it. So, let's make a simple dressing you will love for your next salad recipe. 

    Dressing Ingredients

    Juicing oranges in a juicer with two salads on the counter.
    • Oranges: I used fresh squeezed Valencia oranges. I prefer freshly squeezed juice over bottled juice.
    • Lemon: I prefer freshly squeezed lemons.
    • Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds a tanginess and works with the acid in citrus fruits.
    • Water: The water thins and emulsifies the dressing in place of oil.
    • Whole-grain mustard: The flavor of whole-grain mustard is very close to Dijon mustard. The major difference is in texture, as the mustard seeds have not been crushed and are whole, resulting in a coarse mustard paste
    • Maple syrup: Maple syrup is a natural sweetener. When added to the citrus salad dressing, it adds the perfect sweetness.

    Dressing Ingredient Substitutions

    • Use bottled orange and lemon juice.
    • I suggest pulp-free orange juice.
    • White vinegar is a natural substitute for apple cider vineagr.
    • Try Dijon mustard instead of stone-ground mustard.
    • Use agave nectar or date syrup instead of maple syrup.

    However, this dressing doesn't need a blender or anything other than a whisk or a spoon. Instead, the ingredients are stirred together and refrigerated until ready for use. That's it. 

    a small bowl of citrus dressing on the counter with a spoon

    Suggested Salad Recipes

    Citrus dressing for salads in a container pouring it on a salad.

    Although I made this dressing for a Fennel Salad with Oranges, any citrus dressing goes well with any salad, but those with fruit bring out the WOW in salads.

    • Spinach Strawberry Salad
    • Grape Salad
    • Fennel Salad with Oranges

    Recipe FAQs

    What does citrus dressing taste like?

    It's a vinaigrette spicy and sweet recipe, tangy and tart. In other words, it's packed with a whole lot of flavor!

    How do you reduce acidity in dressings?

    Although oil is often used to dilute acidity in dressing, another way to counteract the acid is to use water instead of oil at a 1:1 ratio.

    How long does citrus dressing last in the refrigerator?

    Citrus dressing stays fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

    Tips

    • I use a juicer that controls the pulp when squeezing fresh oranges and lemons. It also helps to reduce the number of seeds in citrus fruits.
    • If the dressing is too bitter, add a ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, which removes the bitterness without including oil.
    • If the dressing is too tart, add more maple syrup and water.
    • Refrigerate the dressing to chill it before serving.

    Try this tangy and fresh citrus dressing for salads. It tastes like summer with each bite of citrus sunshine!

    Great Vegan Salads to Try

    • Tofu marinades
      Tofu Marinade Recipes
    • Buffalo Chickpea Wrap Recipe
      Buffalo Chickpea Wrap
    • superfood salad recipe
      Superfood Salad
    • Air-fried chickpea recipe
      Air Fried Chickpeas

    If you love this citrus dressing, give us a 5-star and comment below. We would love to hear from you.

    📖 Recipe

    citrus salad dressing

    Citrus Dressing for Salads

    Kathy Carmichael
    Citrus dressing for salads is a light and fresh dressing made with very few ingredients, with a fabulous citrus taste. Perfect for any salad, citrus salad dressing is easy to make and oil-free.
    4.73 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Sauces, Dips & Dressings
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 39 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 oranges juiced
    • 1 lemon juiced
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 3 Tablespoons water
    • 2 Tablespoons whole-grain mustard
    • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup

    Instructions
     

    • Juice the oranges and lemon, discarding seeds and pulp.
    • Add all the other ingredients and whisk together.
    • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    • Juice fruit using a juicer to remove pulp and seeds. 
    • This dressing does not require the use of a blender. Instead, whisk the ingredients together. 
    • Make the citrus dressing in advance and chill in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it. 
    • Add orange ad lemon zest for a more profound citrus flavor. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6gCalories: 39kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.03gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 56mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 2gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 106IUVitamin C: 33mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried our recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Kathy Carmichael

    Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂

    www.kathysvegankitchen.com/about-me/

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      4.73 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Millie

      May 01, 2025 at 3:18 pm

      5 stars
      AMAZING!!

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        May 02, 2025 at 2:20 pm

        Hi Millie, I'm so glad you liked the citrus dressing. I appreciate your feedback.

        Reply
    2. Jodi Gibson

      July 17, 2023 at 4:30 am

      Good dressing! Wish a little thicker.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        July 17, 2023 at 5:56 am

        Hi Jodi, add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken the dressing or blend with 1/4 cashews or sunflower seeds.

        Reply
    3. Paul

      April 07, 2021 at 10:07 pm

      Looks great Kathy. Have you ever added the zest from either the orange or lemon? Have you ever tried an orange lemon lime variation? I am going to start with your recipe and experiment on some variations. Zest always adds more flavor. But I only zest if it's organic produce, never conventional.

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 08, 2021 at 5:27 am

        Hi Paul, yes I have and I love it. Make sure you are using organic limes and lemons when you zest, though, and wash well before testing. I love the citrus flavors, but you want to make sure they are pesticide-free 🙂 Let me know how it goes! And thanks for the great suggestion.

        Reply
    4. Amy

      April 06, 2021 at 4:57 pm

      I can’t wait to try this recipe! My daughter is a vegetarian. And we are always looking for healthy salad dressings Do ty for this. Looks delicious!

      Reply
      • Kathy Carmichael

        April 07, 2021 at 4:40 am

        Hi Amy, the citrus dressing is one of my favorites for spring and summer. I hope you and your daughter enjoy the recipe. Thank you for reaching out. Let me know what you think. I appreciate any feedback 🙂

        Reply

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