Simple Vinaigrette

It's important to know how to make a simple vinaigrette because you never know when you might need to whip one up - over greens, fish, vegetables, it's applications are endless.

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Simple Vinaigrette in a glass cruet with a salad behind.

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How to Make a Vinaigrette

A vinaigrette is a classic combination of oil and vinegar and by knowing the ratio of the two, along with...View Technique

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Basic Vinaigrette

  • Prep Time: 10 m
  • Total Time: 10 m
  • Servings:
    16
    Makes approximately 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup vinegar (balsamic, red wine vinegar, or rice wine vinegar)
  • ½ shallot finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar optional
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ cup olive oil
  • chopped fresh herbs basil, parsley, tarragon, chives

Instructions

  1. Mix the vinegar, shallot, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in a small bowl-measuring glass or vinaigrette bottle.
  2. Add the olive oil and whisk together.
  3. Serve over greens, vegetables, cooked fish or chicken, roasted potatoes, or any number of dishes.
  4. Refrigerate the leftovers and whisk again before using.

Simple Rice Wine Vinaigrette

  • Prep Time: 10 m
  • Total Time: 10 m
  • Servings:
    4

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon or other good mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • salt to taste
  • pinch cayenne pepper
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Combine the vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and cayenne in a small bowl.
  2. Whisk in the olive oil until incorporated into the vinegar mixture. Dressing will emulsify and thicken.  Adjust seasoning if necessary. 

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Comments (4)Post a Reply

  1. the video shows different ratios and ingredients than the recipe. what are the measurements of the herbs and sugar you used in the video?

    1. Hi Lynn,
      The herbs and sugar measurements are really up to you. You don’t have to add sugar at all to the recipe, but you can if you like a sweeter vinaigrette. In the video, I added 1 teaspoon of brown sugar. I don’t measure the herbs when I make a vinaigrette, but would guess about 2 tablespoons at least into a cup’s worth of vinaigrette. I’ve updated the recipe page so you’ll have all the measurements you need. ML

    1. No, just one. Your choice of any vinegar, but suggested vinegars are balsamic, rice wine vinegar or red wine vinegar.

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