Homemade Vinaigrette Dressing (Printable)

Tangy olive oil and red wine vinaigrette with Dijon and garlic — ready in 5 minutes; ideal for salads.

# What You Need:

→ Base

01 - 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
02 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

→ Flavorings

03 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
04 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
05 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
06 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Additions

08 - 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, chopped (parsley, chives, or tarragon)

# How-To:

01 - In a medium bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, honey or maple syrup if using, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well blended.
02 - Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while whisking vigorously and continuously until the dressing is fully emulsified and smooth.
03 - Stir in any desired fresh chopped herbs such as parsley, chives, or tarragon for additional flavor.
04 - Taste the vinaigrette and adjust the seasoning as needed. Use immediately or transfer to a sealed container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Shake well before each use.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Once you master this ratio, you will never waste money on premade dressing again, and your salads will actually taste like something.
  • The Dijon mustard is the secret weapon here, it acts as an emulsifier that keeps everything blended beautifully instead of separating into an oily mess.
02 -
  • If your dressing breaks and looks separated instead of creamy, you likely added the oil too fast, just whisk harder or start over with a new spoonful of mustard as your anchor.
  • Shaking the dressing in a mason jar instead of whisking works perfectly and saves you from dirtying an extra bowl.
03 -
  • The golden ratio to remember is three parts oil to one part acid, once you have that locked in you can improvise endlessly without a recipe.
  • Adding a tiny splash of warm water at the end can fix a dressing that tastes too sharp or thick, it opens everything up beautifully.

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