5-Minute Moroccan Citrus Vinaigrette
May 8, 2023 (Last updated Jan 7, 2025) by Hannah Sunderani
5-Minute Moroccan Citrus Vinaigrette
This tangy citrus vinaigrette is one of my absolute favourite ways to transport myself back to Marrakech. It’s made with fresh lemon juice, orange juice, and warm, savoury Moroccan spices. It’s truly the perfect combination of flavours.
Whip this simple dressing in 5 minutes! And use it any time you need a flavourful sauce to drizzle on large salads, bliss bowls, or anything that needs a quick flavour boost!
This Citrus Vinaigrette is…
- Ready in 5 minutes
- Vegan
- Well-spiced
- Easy to make
- Vibrant
- Skeptic-approved
- Made with fresh ingredients
- Husband approved
- Good any night of the week!
Ingredient Notes
- Extra virgin olive oil – Just as I recommend when making homemade marinara sauce or balsamic vinaigrette, using a high-quality, cold-pressed oil is best here. For the best flavour, avoid using oils such as canola oil, vegetable oil, or grapeseed oil. These oils are suitable for every day cooking, but won’t make a smooth, flavourful dressing.
- Citrus juice – This citrus salad dressing uses a combination of fresh orange juice and lemon juice. They add a boost of Vitamin C and a tanginess that brightens up the entire recipe. If you want an even stronger boost of citrus flavour, add a bit of lemon zest or orange zest to taste.
- Maple syrup – A little bit of maple syrup balances the tanginess of the citrus and compliments the warmth in the cinnamon. If desired, you can also use another liquid sweetener, such as agave nectar or even simple syrup.
- Spices – Because this dressing is Moroccan-inspired, it’s infused with some of my favorite spices in Moroccan cuisine – cinnamon, ginger, cumin, coriander, and red chili flakes. If interested in travel, you may enjoy my Vegan Guide to Marrakech! I’ve shared all of the best places to eat, stay, and things to do.
Make this recipe with me!
Make this citrus vinaigrette recipe with me on my YouTube Channel! On this episode I share 4 Vegan Protein-Packed Recipes. Featuring my Moroccan Chickpea Salad with this delicious dressing!
How to Make a Moroccan-Inspired Citrus Vinaigrette
If you’ve made my Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe or Miso Sauce, you’ll know how quick and easy it is to prepare your own dressings and vinaigrettes from scratch!
All you need to do is place the olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, maple syrup, and spices together in a small mixing bowl. Then whisk until well combined and drizzle on your favorite salads.
It’s as simple and healthy as that. Once you give it a try yourself, you’ll never go back to store bought citrus vinaigrette dressings again.
Serving Suggestions
This 30 Minute Moroccan-Inspired Carrot & Chickpea Salad and this Kale Sweet Potato Salad are my two all-time favourite salads to drizzle this Moroccan-Inspired Citrus Vinaigrette on. They truly take the flavours to the next level!
The citrusy flavours would honestly pair well with any summer salad or drizzled over your favorite proteins such as chickpeas, tofu, or a cold pasta salad.
Storage Instructions
This simple vinaigrette will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To ensure freshness, store homemade salad dressings in an airtight container such as a covered jar, mason jar, or resealable storage container.
When ready to use, give it a good shake or whisk the citrus vinaigrette dressing vigorously to recombine everything – separation is natural!
Recipe FAQs
What is the difference between salad dressing and vinaigrette?
The terms salad dressing and vinaigrette can be used interchangeably, but vinaigrettes are typically oil-based and not creamy. Salad dressings, however, can be on the creamy side, such as Vegan Caesar Dressing, Green Goddess Salad Dressing, and Vegan Ranch Dressing. This citrus dressing is considered a vinaigrette because it’s oil-based.
Does citrus vinaigrette have sugar?
This citrus vinaigrette is lightly sweetened with unrefined maple syrup. It does not contain any refined sugars such as white granulated sugar, brown sugar or more processed syrups like corn syrup.
Why does homemade vinaigrette go bad?
Homemade vinaigrettes are perishable because they don’t contain any preservatives! If you read the ingredient list on most store-bought dressings, you’ll notice they’re made with preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. These ingredients prevent the dressings from spoiling and allow them to be shelf stable. Homemade salad dressing recipes are preservative-free and therefore will spoil much faster! For long term freshness, avoid storing this citrus vinaigrette recipe at room temperature and keep refrigerated when not using!
More Simple Salad Dressings and Sauces You Might Like:
- Vegan Caesar Dressing
- Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
- Chimichurri Sauce
- Classic Hummus
I hope you love this healthy 5-minute citrus dressing as much as I do! If you do make this recipe, please let me know in the comments below what you think! I truly love hearing from you, and I’m always here to answer any questions you might have.
And of course, tag me on Instagram with your pictures using the hashtag #twospoons. Nothing makes me happier than to see your recreations.
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5-Minute Moroccan Citrus Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ginger
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp coriander
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- pinch chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare dressing: in a maison jar add the olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cumin, coriander, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Whisk together with a fork, or secure with the lid and give it a good shake!
- Drizzle over your favourite salad combinations. I particularly love it on my Morroccan Carrot and Chickpea Salad or my Kale Sweet Potato Salad (linked in recipe notes below).
Watch The Video
Notes
Approvals
Nutrition
See more step-by-step instructions by visiting the recipe story here!
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