I love a lot of things about summer, but when it comes to food that is really only available this time of year, cherries top my list. For some reason though, most markets and stores sell them in bags way larger than I can handle. Even with my love for cherries, I have a hard time getting through a bag before they go bad.
A standard scene in my kitchen is for me to start the week with a huge amount of cherries and eat about half of them in oatmeal or just as a snack. By the end of the week though, I’m running out of things to do with them.
This vinaigrette is a saving grace. You can and should use fresh cherries but, if I’m being honest, you don’t have to use the freshest cherries. After all, we are just roasting them and pureeing them so don’t feel bad if a few of them are sub-optimal, if you know what I mean.
Okay, back to vinaigrette. You don’t need that many ingredients to make this great roasted cherry vinaigrette. It’s fresh and bright and is a great topper to any summer salad.
Roasted Cherry Vinaigrette
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh cherries
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Pinch dried mustard
- Pinch sugar
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wash cherries and lay them out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (for easier clean up). Drizzle the cherries with a tiny bit of olive oil and sprinkle with salt.
- Roast cherries for 15-20 minutes until they are slightly charred and bursting. Remove and let the cherries cool and then pop out the seeds. You should be able to just push them out with your fingers.
- Add pitted cherries to a food processor with vinegar, a pinch of sugar and mustard, and salt and pepper. Pulse a few times to combine. Then drizzle in olive oil and pulse until smooth.
- Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking. Store in the fridge for 2 weeks!
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Cherry Vinaigrette
I find it easier to roast the cherries before pitting them. You can leave the stems on even. Just clean them and toss them with a little olive oil and a sprinkle of salt.
If you line your baking sheet with some parchment paper, it’ll make for easier clean up.
Roast these guys for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees. They should start to burst open a bit and maybe even char on the edges. It’s all good.
Once the cherries are roasted you can let them cool a bit and then just pop out the pits. Remove any stems that are on the cherries and add the pitted cherries to a small food processor.
Now the vinaigrette is pretty straightforward. Add some red wine vinegar along with a pinch of sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper.
Drizzle in some olive oil and pulse this until it’s smooth.
I just love the color on this.
Most importantly, after your dressing is ready, give it a taste. You might want to add an extra pinch of spice or sugar. Maybe a dash of hot sauce? You can kind of make it your own, but be sure not to overpower the cherry flavor. That should be the star!
Cherries are all over the place these days and the next time you find yourself with a spare cup, try this out!
Bill Turley
Re read your instructions about removing the pit and stems. You say to put them in a food processor not the cherries
Nick
Ha! Fixed… thanks BIll. :)
PamelaR
If cherries are pre-bagged and sold by the pound (and not priced per bag) you can take as many or as few as you want. This also goes for grapes. You do not have to buy the whole bag. I don’t know of a single grocery store where this is not true. If you have any doubt, ask the produce manager or one of the produce stockers. If no one is around, go bang on their door.
Nick
Whoa! I seriously didn’t know that and never thought to ask. I always just grabbed a bag. Haha!
Nina D
Have you ever made brandied cherries for use in cocktails? That’s something I’d like to try because I really hate the neon stuff that comes laced with high-fructose corn syrup, but I also don’t want to fork over $25 for a jar of Luxardo!
This looks tasty. And I bet the roasted cherries would taste pretty awesome over ice cream. Maybe with a bit of balsamic vinegar?
Nick
Good idea Nina! Adding it to my cherry list. I have the exact same problem but never thought to make them actually. I’m sure it’s not that hard. I’ll do some research. :)
Victoria
I made this and the whole house smelled good as the cherries were roasting! Used it as a marinade for flank steak to be grilled and then drizzled some of the reserved viniagrette over for serving. This may have been the best flank steak ever! Thanks for the recipe!