Roasted red grape vinaigrette

This dressing is a fun and flavorful way to dress up autumn greens.


Roasted red grape vinaigrette

Fresh grapes are a fun find at the farmers market. You can eat them by the handful while they’re fresh, but they’re also great for cooking. They add a natural sweetness that complements many fall ingredients.

Brushing them with olive oil and then roasting them in the oven for about an hour gives them a texture and sweetness somewhere between a grape and a raisin. They can then be blended and sieved to create a sweet and aromatic reduction — the base for a roasted grape vinaigrette.

We chose a Spanish-inspired salad of red romaine, roasted red pepper, Manchego cheese, pumpkin seeds, and green olives to highlight this dressing. But it’s also great on a Kale-quinoa salad with roasted butternut squash. Be creative and enjoy this dressing with your favorite fall salads!

Servings: Enough dressing for 3 to 4 side salads

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch of Red Flame seedless grapes or other locally available grapes (about one cup, loosely packed)
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • Pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon shallot, minced
  • 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly toss grapes with one teaspoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 1 hour.
  2. Remove from oven. Process grapes through a food mill or food processor. Then press through a fine sieve into a small mixing bowl (this should yield about 1/8 cup of grape juice). Add a pinch of salt, shallot and balsamic vinegar.
  3. Let sit for about five minutes and mix in one tablespoon olive oil.

Nutrition information (per serving)

  • Calories: 70
  • Total fat: 4.5 g
  • Saturated fat: 0.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg
  • Sodium: 75 mg
  • Total carbohydrate: 8 g
  • Dietary fiber: 0 g
  • Total sugars: 6 g
  • Protein: 0 g