Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

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This Vinaigrette recipe is quick and easy to make using pantry staple ingredients. Make a batch today and drizzle it over salads all week long!

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (1)

Homemade salad dressing is so simple to make, and this simple vinaigrette recipe is my favorite. It’s made with just four ingredients, plus salt and pepper. Once you master this basic recipe, you can customize it to make it your own. I’ve included some variation suggestions below.

This vinaigrette is tangy and perfect for drizzling over your favorite green salad. You can store it in your refrigerator for up to two weeks, so you can always have homemade vinaigrette dressing ready to enjoy.

I prefer homemade dressing over store bought because it tastes fresher and you can choose what to put in your salad dressing. Without any preservatives or other questionable ingredients, this vinaigrette dressing is perfect for serving with your healthy salads. You might also enjoy my balsamic vinaigrette, Italian dressing, honey mustard dressing, greek salad dressing and homemade ranch dressing recipes.

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2)

How to make Vinaigrette

Ingredients

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil in a vinaigrette because the olive oil is a key ingredient in your dressing. The flavor of the olive oil plays a big role in the flavor of the dressing.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar: The best vinaigrette is the perfect balance of an acidic ingredient (in this case vinegar) and a sweetener. Apple cider vinegar is my favorite vinegar for salad dressings because of the flavor. You can substitute another vinegar if you prefer.
  • Honey: The honey balances out the tartness of the vinegar. You can add more or less, to taste.
  • Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard helps to emulsify the vinaigrette. It also adds flavor. If you don’t care for mustard, you can leave it out.
  • Salt and Pepper: Always season your salad dressings to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe Steps

To make this vinaigrette dressing, all you need to do is combine the ingredients and mix them together well. You can mix everything together in a bowl, with a whisk. Or, you can combine the ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to mix. I usually make homemade salad dressing in a mason jar because then I can store the dressing right in the jar in my refrigerator.

Once everything is mixed together, taste the dressing and adjust the ingredients as necessary. The ratio of ingredients listed in the recipe below can be adjusted to your tastes. If your dressing tastes too sweet, you can add a little more vinegar or olive oil. If it is too acidic, add a little more honey or olive oil. You can also add more salt and pepper, to taste.

Vinaigrette Variations

  • You can change the flavor of this recipe by using a different type of vinegar. Try red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar or champagne vinegar.
  • You can use maple syrup instead of honey.
  • Like this Lemon Vinaigrette recipe, instead of vinegar, you can use lemon juice as your acidic ingredient.

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (3)

Try this Salad Dressing with these Salads:

  • Avocado Kale Salad
  • Massaged Kale Salad
  • Spinach Salad with Bacon
  • Green Salad Recipe

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (4)

5 from 5 ratings

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe

This Vinaigrette recipe is quick and easy to make using pantry staple ingredients. Tastes so much better than store bought! Make a batch today and drizzle it over salads all week long.

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Ingredients

  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, see note
  • 1 ½ teaspoons honey, or pure maple syrup
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • teaspoon Kosher salt, or fine sea salt
  • black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid or in a small bowl. Seal the jar with the lid and shake until well combined, or whisk until well combined.

  • Taste and adjust the ingredients as necessary. If the dressing is too sweet, add a little more vinegar or olive oil. If it is too acidic, add a little more honey or olive oil.

  • Dressing can be used immediately or stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Notes

  • The dressing will separate as it sits and the oil may solidify in the refrigerator. Let the dressing sit at room temperature until the oil melts and then shake or stir vigorously to recombine the ingredients.
  • Apple cider vinegar may be substituted with white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.

Serving: 1.5tablespoons, Calories: 129kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 81mg, Sugar: 2g, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is an estimate.

Cuisine: French

Course: Dressing

Tried this recipe?Mention @kristines_kitchen on Instagram or tag #kristineskitchenblog.

This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Kristine's Kitchen!

Easy Meal Prep Gluten Free Homemade Favorites Sauces / Seasonings / Dressings / Spreads Vegetarian Recipes

posted by Kristine Rosenblatt on Jan 28, 2020 (last updated May 14, 2020)

8 comments Leave a comment »

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8 comments on “Simple Vinaigrette Recipe”

  1. Lynn Reply

    I’ve been making my own dressing for years and I had to tell you this is one of the tastiest vinaigrette dressings I have ever made. My husband loved it also and he isn’t usually a fan of this type of dressing ! Thanks for the great recipe !

  2. Augustine Reply

    This vinaigrette salad dressing was simple and absolutely delicious. I will definitely make it whenever I need one, highly recommend.

  3. Lesley Reynolds Reply

    I made this dressing using red wine vinegar. I also added a tsp of Italian seasoning and 1/4 cup of basil puree. Drizzled over grape tomatoes, diced cucumber and feta cheese for a yummy summer salad. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  4. Lisa Reply

    This dressing is delicious!!!! I love garlic, so I added a tablespoon of minced garlic…….def. my go to salad dressing

  5. Stefany Reply

    BEST, easiest dressing! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve made it.

  6. mary Reply

    This salad dressing was so quick to make and tasted delicious. I used it on my salad straight away. Thank you for sharing the recipe!

  7. Addy Reply

    Absolutely delicious! Quick & easy to make, this is my new go to salad dressing

  8. Addy Reply

    My new go to salad dressing. Tastes absolutely divine.

Leave a comment »

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe - Kristine's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What is the most basic formula in making a salad vinaigrette? ›

The Basic Vinaigrette Formula

The most basic ratio for making a salad vinaigrette is: one part vinegar (or other acid) three parts oil.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when making vinaigrette? ›

12 Mistakes Everyone Makes When Making Homemade Vinaigrette
  • Estimating measurements for all ingredients. inspiredbyart/Shutterstock. ...
  • Using the wrong oil. ...
  • Using the wrong vinegar. ...
  • Leaving out the emulsifier. ...
  • Skipping the mustard. ...
  • Forgetting to check expiration dates. ...
  • Not using fresh herbs. ...
  • Using vinaigrette only on salad.
Aug 18, 2022

What is basic vinaigrette made of? ›

2 Ingredients: The basics

To make a bare-bones vinaigrette, all you need is vinegar (sherry, Champagne, balsamic, cider, red, white, or rice wine vinegar all work) and oil (go with a neutral vegetable oil like grapeseed for a mild base, or your best extra-virgin olive oil for grassier undertones).

What type of vinegar is most commonly used in vinaigrette? ›

Red Wine Vinegar

Red wine vinegar is similar to its white wine counterpart. It's derived from a red wine base and offers a sweet, less acidic taste. This Mediterranean staple has a mellow flavor profile that is perfect for use in vinaigrettes and reductions.

What is the ratio of oil to vinegar when making a vinaigrette? ›

Culinary Tips for a Basic Vinaigrette Dressing (with Variations) This is a standard vinaigrette recipe, so we use the traditional oil to vinegar ratio: three parts oil to one part vinegar/acid, but this ratio can vary depending on your choice of vinegar/acid and personal taste.

What is Greek vinaigrette made of? ›

Mix olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, pepper, salt, onion powder, and Dijon-style mustard together in a very large container. Pour in vinegar slowly while mixing vigorously until well blended. Store tightly covered at room temperature. Pour over salad and enjoy!

What is the stabilizer in a vinaigrette? ›

An emulsifier is used in a vinaigrette to stabilize the oil and vinegar. Common emulsifiers include egg yolks, soy lecithin, and mustard. These ingredients all include lecithin--the stabilizing compound. In many vinaigrettes, mustard is the go-to stabilizer.

Why does homemade vinaigrette go bad? ›

How Long Does Homemade Vinaigrette Last? Traditional vinaigrettes, like the balsamic version listed below, will last longer—sometimes up to a few weeks. However, anything with fresh garlic should be consumed within a few days, as the combination of garlic and oil can form harmful bacteria over time.

How do you cut the bitterness out of a vinaigrette? ›

Sweetness balances out acidity, spice, and bitterness. A salad composed of bitter greens may benefit from a sweeter dressing. But sweetness can come from sources other than one-note white sugar; consider honey, pureed dates, maple syrup, jam, or molasses as sweeteners that also add flavor and mouth-feel.

What's the difference between balsamic vinaigrette and regular vinaigrette? ›

A balsamic vinaigrette typically involves adding oil, sugar, and/or mustard to balsamic vinegar, along with seasonings like garlic, salt, and pepper. While it can be made in a way that makes it healthier than several other salad dressing options, it can't compare to simply using the vinegar and oil.

What is the ratio for a vinaigrette? ›

Traditional vinegar to oil ratio for vinaigrette

For a traditional vinaigrette, you'll need to mix about 3 tablespoons of oil to 1 tablespoon of vinegar. You'll also want to add some salt and pepper to taste. Of course, for all four ingredients, the better the quality you use, the better your vinaigrette will taste.

What is chipotle vinaigrette made of? ›

To make this recipe, you'll want to haul out your blender, plus four ingredients, including red-wine vinegar, honey, canned chipotles in adobo, and dried oregano (not counting basics like salt, pepper, oil and water). In Chipotle locations, they use their chipotle marinade in place of the canned chipotles.

What is the main ingredients in salad dressing? ›

Salad dressings are vegetable-oil-in-water emulsions containing vinegar, sugar, an emulsifier, and flavors.

What is the simplest form of dressing? ›

Lets start with a vinaigrette. These are the lightest of all dressings. On the simplest level they're merely any kind of acid (think lemon, lime, vinegar etc.) whisked together with oil salt and pepper.

What are the 3 basic types of salad dressings? ›

In Western culture, there are three basic types of salad dressing: Vinaigrette; Creamy dressings, usually based on mayonnaise or fermented milk products, such as yogurt, sour cream (crème fraîche, smetana), buttermilk; Cooked dressings, which resemble creamy dressings, but are usually thickened by adding egg yolks and ...

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