My French Mother-in-law taught me this Easy Vinaigrette Recipe and it is my go-to for green salads, rice salads and even potato salads. So good. So quick to make. And really so very – very – easy. We always have a container of vinaigrette in the fridge for weeknight salads and guest-worthy weekend dinners. You will love this recipe…
Easy Vinaigrette Recipe
Aside: do you call it vinaigrette or French dressing?
You will need:
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 6 tbsp vegetable oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: herbs du Provence
Spoon Dijon mustard into a bowl and add red wine vinegar. Using a fork, stir well to combine the two ingredients. Then slowly (slowly is key) drip in oil while constantly beating the mustard/vinegar mixture with a fork. Stir rapidly until the oil and mustard/vinegar mixture combine. Add in salt, pepper, and herbs.
Should you pour your oil in (instead of slowly dripping it in) the ingredients will separate. Not good. If this happens, re-start the process with a clean bowl. Re-start the ingredient additions up to the vinegar and then instead of adding oil – add the separated mustard/oil mixture from your previous batch (adding it SLOWLY).
You can double and triple this recipe to make bigger batches of this Easy Vinaigrette Recipe and store in your fridge (it will keep for weeks in the fridge). It’s a great alternative to mayo in a potato salad (and perfect for hot summer days as you don’t have to worry about this Easy Vinaigrette Recipe turning bad in heat as you would with mayo). It’s also really good as a dip for avocados.
I used this Easy Vinaigrette Recipe just last night with a rice salad – and it was fantastic. Not to mention how well it marries with a basic garden salad.
Anne Taylor says
In my mind, vinaigrettes are so difficult to make, but it sounds like I can do it lol Thanks very much for this recipe and the great directions!
parentcl says
In my mind homemade mayonaise is difficult (yes, my French Mother-in-law makes that too). This vinaigrette is actually really simple.
Lee Pearson says
Thanks for this nice recipe. I love Vinaigrette dressing and really like that it is easy to make 🙂
parentcl says
I hope you enjoy Lee – give it a try.
Cheryl (@loucheryl) says
Sounds so simple and I would love to give it a try!
parentcl says
Try away – once you make it – it will ruin all store bought dressings for you.
hmrcarlson says
This is so simple but it sounds delish! I don’t have a favourite vinaigrette but maybe this one will fill the role!
parentcl says
It’s so versatile – that’s what I like most. It’s sure to be a fav!
Lorrie Q. Cote says
Simple. Delicious. Whipped this up to dress the salad I took to a friends dinner. You know it’s a hit when you’re asked for the recipe! I’ll repeat what has been said here because it’s important ~ use good quality oil and champagne vinegar. Colavita is the brand available in my neck of the woods.
Suzanne Smith says
Hey – who told you I needed to learn how to make this and stop depending on my husband to do it with his recipe?? Thank you and I Pinned – so now your French MIL is immortalized!!
loriag says
I bet my husband would really like this recipe, being a Dijon mustard fan. Thank you for sharing.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
I like to make my own salad dressing, usually I use olive oil, lemon juice and a little maple syrup, yummy. 🙂
Linda H says
This woud be a great recipe to try and also to have some left in the fridge for future.
Treen Goodwin says
Sounds awesome , i have never made a vinaigrette before , its sounds pretty easy i will def be trying it out , thanks for sharing !
Debbie White Beattie says
I can imagine the taste just from the ingredients and I bet it’s really tangy and delicious on every kind of salad.
SHIRLEY says
This vinaigrette looks tasy and easy. I will be using it for my next salad.
Mike Gismondi says
This looks like a great recipe. I love making our own salad dressings.