Simple Roasted Red Pepper Dressing for Salad

This roasted red pepper dressing is packed with flavor from roasted peppers and a touch of sweetness. It’s the perfect low-calorie way to dress up your salads without sacrificing taste (or that creamy texture you love). Bonus: This creamy dressing is incredibly easy to make and tastes good with almost anything!

Roasted red pepper salad dressing in a glass bottle.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page.)

The creamy roasted red pepper sauce can be made with the simplest ingredients:

Labelled ingredients for roasted red pepper salad dressing.

How to make roasted red pepper dressing

Roast red peppers

This is one of my favorite ways to use red peppers. I have used it in many recipes like paprika feta dip with roasted red peppers and red chilli pesto.

Preheat the oven to 392°F/200°C.

Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place the red bell peppers and roast in the oven for 30 minutes.

2 red bell peppers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Peel the charred peppers

Remove roasted red peppers from the oven. Cover them with a large glass bowl.

This will help you peel the skin of the peppers easily.

After 10 minutes, peel the peppers.

Remove the seeds, reserving the juices. Chop the peppers.

Roasted red peppers in a bowl with skin and seeds removed.

Blend

Place the chopped peppers along with the juices in a food processor bowl.

Add finely chopped garlic, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, cayenne pepper, paprika, black pepper and sea salt.

Ingredients for roasted red pepper vinaigrette in a food processor.

Blend until you get a smooth and creamy sauce.

Roasted red pepper dressing in a food processor.

What to serve with roasted red pepper vinaigrette

  • This healthy salad dressing tastes great with green salads like lettuce or kale salad. 
  • Make roasted red pepper pasta salad by adding this sauce to cooked pasta with salad vegetables of your choice.
  • Sometimes I replace the balsamic vinaigrette in the Italian pasta salad or the easy quinoa pasta salad with this delicious sauce.
  • You can use it as a dipping sauce for chips or veggie sticks.
  • This creamy sauce can be a great side for your protein as well. 
  • Try serving baked thin sliced chicken breasts or pan-seared paprika salmon with roasted red pepper sauce. You’ll realize how it elevates the flavors of anything it is served with.
  • Add a few dollops of this red pepper dressing to roasted tomato garlic soup or antioxidant red cabbage soup. It’s a great way to add instant flavor to soups.
Roasted red pepper dressing being drizzled on a green salad.
Roasted red pepper vinaigrette in a glass bottle.

Easy Roasted Red Pepper Dressing Recipe

This roasted red pepper dressing is packed with flavor from roasted peppers. It's the perfect low-calorie way to dress up your salads without sacrificing taste (or that creamy texture you love).
Author: Sheeba
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer, condiment, dip, dressing, sauce
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 49.9 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large red bell peppers
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

STEP BY STEP IMAGES

Scroll back to find detailed recipe photos!

Instructions
 

Roast red peppers

  • Preheat the oven to 392°F/200°C.
  • Line a baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place 2 large red bell peppers and roast in the oven for 30 minutes.

Peel the charred peppers

  • Remove roasted red peppers from the oven.
  • Cover them with a large glass bowl. This will help you peel the skin of the peppers easily.
  • After 10 minutes, peel the peppers. Remove the seeds, reserving the juices.
  • Roughly chop the peppers.

Blend

  • Place the chopped red peppers (along with the juices) in a food processor or high speed blender.
  • Add: 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon sea salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
  • Blend until you get a smooth and creamy sauce.

Video

Notes

Additions
  1. This dressing has a thick and saucy consistency which is best suited for green leafy salads (or as a dip). If you want a thinner dressing, dilute it with olive oil.
  2. Chop up 2 or 3 sundried tomatoes and add when you blend the dressing.
  3. Add 2 tablespoons of cashews (with a large pinch of extra salt and black pepper) to make this a cashew roasted red pepper dip.
  4. A spoon of orange zest will add a burst of freshness to this creamy dressing.
  5. If you have fresh basil leaves or parsley, finely chop and add them to the dressing after blending.
 
Substitutions
  1. You can use store bought roasted red peppers. This recipe will require a 16-ounce (about 450 grams) jar.
  2. Make it a vegan roasted red pepper dip by replacing honey with sugar or maple syrup.
  3. You can substitute apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.
 
Storage and make ahead tips
  1. This creamy dressing stays fresh in the fridge for a week.
  2. It can be frozen for a month.
  3. To thaw it, just immerse the jar of dressing in a bowl of hot water for 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Roasted Red Pepper Dressing Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
49.9
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3.7
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.5
g
3
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
0.5
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2.6
g
Sodium
 
154.4
mg
7
%
Potassium
 
99.7
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
4.5
g
2
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
3.2
g
4
%
Protein
 
0.5
g
1
%
Vitamin A
 
1372.2
IU
27
%
Vitamin C
 
53.5
mg
65
%
Calcium
 
5.8
mg
1
%
Iron
 
0.3
mg
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Author profile photo

Hi! I’m Sheeba, welcome to Go Healthy ever after!

I have a passion for cooking delicious nourishing food that’s easy to cook with fresh natural ingredients free from additives or preservatives. The easy healthy recipes you find here will inspire you to cook with creativity.

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