How to make basic vinaigrette
Learn how to make a basic vinaigrette recipe. It is easier than you think and healthier too! Homemade vinaigrette doesn’t have any preservatives. Enjoy!
Today, I brought to you an easy homemade vinaigrette dressing for summer salads. Finally, the long and sunny days have arrived! Who doesn’t like to enjoy every free moment outside eating a delicious salad bowl, especially with some grilled meat? I do. For this reason, I always have this dressing in my fridge to save time in the kitchen and enjoy more of the fresh air outside 😉
When it comes to flavor, homemade salad dressings taste much better than store-bought dressings. You also should make your vinaigrette dressing to avoid the high sodium and preservatives that come in the bottled options in stores.
Speaking of the vinaigrette recipe… Some people don’t like to incorporate garlic into their dressings because they think it tastes too strong. If you finely mince the garlic, the very small pieces will easily spread throughout your dressing. Then the taste won’t be as strong!
I also like to use whole-wheat dijon mustard. I, personally, love the texture of it, but you can use the traditional one too since it won’t affect the flavor of the dressing. One last thing, because this vinaigrette dressing can easily separate, you must shake or whisk it before serving.
You can store your homemade vinaigrette in a mason jar (or any other covered container) in the fridge for over 3 days. Any longer than that, your vinaigrette can go bad since it doesn’t have any preservatives.
I hope I inspired you to create your own vinaigrette in your kitchen today.
If you like this recipe, please share with your friends and family. Do you want to taste more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow Primavera Kitchen on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and Facebook for all delicious recipes updates. As always, I really appreciate you stopping by.
How to make basic vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon whole grain dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or white-wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Finely mince a clove of garlic.
- Place in a salad dressing jar with the whole grain dijon mustard.
- Pour the lemon juice into the mixture with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Whisk to combine all the ingredients.
- Slowly pour extra-virgin olive oil, whisking as you go to mix.
- Taste to check the seasoning and it is done.
- Enjoy it on your favorite salad!
Nutrition Information
Amount per serving (1/4) — Calories: 186, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 15g, Sodium: 99mg, Potassium: 13mg, Carbohydrates: 1g, Vitamin C: 5%If you make this recipe, please don't forget to snap a photo and hashtag it #primaverakitchen. I really want to see!
Bring joy and healthier dressings into your plate!
I love making my own homemade dressings! I’ve found that absolutely NOTHING beats the flavor. —Bottled dressing doesn’t even hold a candle. 😉 This looks ah-MAZING, Olivia! And your photos are just beautiful. I want this dressing on my lunch salad this afternoon! Pinned.
I totally agree with you Sarah. I wish I could mail you this dressing for your lunch 😉 Thanks for your sweet compliment.
I love to make my own dressings- they just taste so much better than store-bought dressings! This looks amazing as well!
It does… I love too. So glad you stopped by, Cindy 😉
I love making my own vinaigrettes! It’s so fun experimenting with different oils and vinegars. I love that you put garlic in yours! And so true about mincing it really fine. I actually grate my garlic, so it’s just teeny tiny specks. Your pictures are beautiful!
Nat, you are so kind. Thanks for your compliment 😉 I always add garlic because if I don’t my husband complains… hahahha! He is a huge fan of garlic! I love too. It is good for you and has an amazing flavour. I always love when you stop by, Nat!
I pretty much ONLY make my own salad dressing. It’s so easy and there are way too many weird, unpronounceable ingredients in bottled dressings! This one sounds yummy… I love adding mustard!
That’s right, Jess. So easy to make and we always know what is going in there 😉
What a good post! I recently tried to make a red wine vinaigrette and it was horrible. Like really really terrible! Ha! It left me a little jaded, but I am going to try your version, it looks fantastic!
Really??! So bad! Annie, I’ve never made red wine vinaigrette. But I can guarantee to you that you will enjoy my version 😉
I love making homemade dressings! They are so good and really so simple to make! This looks perfect to have on hand for all the salads I’ll eat this summer : )
Thanks, Ashley. I agree with you, there is no reason not to make them from scratch.
Homemade dressings taste so much better than store bought! Add in the fact that they are so simple to make, and there is no reason not to make them from scratch. Thanks for the recipe – pinning it now. Beautiful pics!
I couldn’t agree more with you, Heather. I always love reading your comments. Thanks a lot 😉
YUM!! I never make my own salad dressing… but I’m sure it’s so much better than the store bought stuff!! Delicious and nutritious! YUM:)
You should try it, Cailee. It is easy, delicious, nutritious and even cheaper than the store bought stuff 😉
I also make my basic dressing pretty much your way!! I love the first pic! Gorgeous!
Happy you love my picture 😉
Such a gorgeous salad dressing.. so simple yet so delicious… 🙂
Glad you like it 😉
There’s nothing like home-made dressing! Vinaigrette is my favourite of all dressings and just looking at this and the ingredients is making me hungry! Looks so tasty Olivia!
Vinaigrette is my favourite of all dressings too, Jessica. Thanks for stopping by 😉
What a great basic recipe! I love salads, especially in the summertime!!
Thanks, Cate 😉
I don’t know how I survived before I learned how to make my own dressing! I can’t believe how easy it is and how much better it is than the store bought stuff. This is definitely a recipe that everyone needs to know! Also, I put a ton of raw garlic in my vinaigrette, other people may not enjoy my breath afterwards, but I love it!
I totally agree with you, Isa. Everybody should know how to make homemade dressing. Glad you stopped by 😉
Homemade dressings are the best and this one looks perfect! Love the sound of the flavors in here and the photos are gorgeous Olivia 🙂
THanks a lot, Kelly. As always you are so sweet 😉
Homemade dressing is my favourite! I put it on everything and always have some handy in the fridge. I love this recipe and I too store it in a mason jar. Yum! Perfect for salad season.
Mason jars are great, right? So convenient! Thanks for stopping by 😉
Great post! Homemade salad dressings pack so much more flavor than store-bought. Yours sounds delish!
I couldn’t agree more with you, Leah! Thanks a lot 😉
THAT is going to be drenched over EVERYTHING I EAT NOW! 🙂
SO glad you like it 😉
You just can’t beat homemade dressing! This looks so flavorful!
Thanks a lot, Kelly!
Beautiful pictures, Olivia. Who would have thought that a dressing could be so beautiful! Thanks for this because I’ve often looked for a simple go-to dressing (mainly for the quantities) and this recipe would be great for that. It’s a good idea to keep some ready in the fridge. I don’t know why I don’t do that!
Thanks for your compliments, Helen. Happy you like my pictures and recipe 😉
I pretty much only make my own salad dressing these days! So much healthier and it’s so simple. I like to add garlic in my dressing also 🙂
I love your vinaigrette recipe – homemade is definitely the way to go. I have so many different kinds of vinegars that I use to change things up.
I’ve never made my own salad dressing (outside of lemon and oil haha) so this looks awesome! Love the photos, too 🙂
perfect, thanks for the recipe. i’ve been searching for a good vinaigrette recipe – will definitely be trying this one out.
So glad you like it, Thalia. Thanks a lot for stopping by 😉
Any substitute for whole grain Dijon mustard?thank you in advance Olivia
Sureva, if you don’t want to use whole grain Dijon you can use the normal Dijon. I hope it can help you 😉