If you’ve been running to your local grocery store every time you run out of vinaigrette, you’re doing it wrong! Making a vinaigrette at home is tastier and cheaper than buying it at the store. And if you make it at home, you’ll never run out, since the ingredients are things that you’ll almost always have in your kitchen anyway. So how do you make your own vinaigrette? Glad you asked! Let’s dive in!
What is Vinaigrette?
Vinaigrette is a sort of shorthand for the French word “vinaigre”, which means “french dressing”. It’s essentially oil and vinegar (or another acidic liquid) mixed together and used as a dressing on salads and sometimes as a marinade for meat and vegetables. Either way, it’s a key thing to have around the house and can help out in a jam if you’re at a loss for how to add some flavor to whatever you’re eating.
Vinaigrette is made with a basic ratio of 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar and whisked until mixed. So, you can pair 3/4 cup olive oil with 1/4 cup of red wine vinegar to make enough for a few meals. Or, whisk together 3 teaspoons of oil with 1 teaspoon of vinegar for a quick salad topping for one. It’s simple, easy, and literally takes less than 5 minutes to prepare.
With a base that simple, you can tailor the seasonings that you use in a vinaigrette down to pretty much anything you desire. Many people go with a simple salt and pepper seasoning, which is fine if you want to stay conservative. But, there are so many interesting flavor combinations that you can experiment with, it seems like a real lost opportunity to forgo some experimentation to find some really cool vinaigrette flavors. The most common variations are:
- Italian Vinaigrette – created by adding crushed red pepper; garlic; and italian seasoning
- Creamy Vinaigrette – created by adding sour cream; mayonnaise; or plain yogurt to basic vinaigrette
- Lemon Vinaigrette – created by lemon juice and garlic to basic vinegrette (you can also add some chopped fresh dill)
- Balsamic Vinaigrette – created by using balsamic vinegar with olive oil, and then adding Italian seasoning and garlic.
How to Make Vinaigrette
For a basic vinaigrette recipe, try this easy base and then add whichever seasonings you prefer. Or better yet, make a large amount of basic vinaigrette and then divide it into smaller containers and make a variety of seasoned vinaigrettes to use whenever you feel like trying something different.
In a small mixing bowl, mix 3 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil with 1 Tablespoon of white wine vinegar. Whisk until emulsified, and then a sprinkling of salt and pepper to taste (don’t add too much, or the vinaigrette will be overwhelming). Cover and refrigerate if you aren’t using immediately. Otherwise, add to a salad and toss to cover or use as the base for a marinade.
Have you ever tried to make a vinaigrette? What’s your favorite way to season it? Share your tips and tricks with us in the comments section below!
