Italian Vinaigrette (Printable)
Zesty Italian vinaigrette with olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon, Dijon, garlic and fresh herbs. Ready in 10 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Base
01 - 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
02 - 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
→ Flavorings
03 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
04 - 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
05 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
06 - 2 teaspoons honey (or sugar for vegan option)
→ Herbs & Seasoning
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
08 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (or 1 1/2 teaspoons dried)
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 3/4 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# How-To:
01 - In a medium bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and honey until fully blended.
02 - Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil while whisking constantly to create a smooth, emulsified vinaigrette.
03 - Stir in the chopped parsley, basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
04 - Taste the vinaigrette and adjust salt, pepper, or acidity as desired.
05 - Use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 week. Shake or stir well before each use.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It takes exactly ten minutes and uses ingredients you probably already have lined up on your counter right now.
- Once you taste the fresh herb version, you will never go back to anything from a store shelf again.
02 -
- The dressing will separate in the refrigerator and that is completely normal, so just shake the jar hard and it comes right back together.
- Adding the oil too quickly is the fastest way to end up with a broken, watery mess instead of a silky emulsion.
03 -
- Mince the garlic as finely as humanly possible because even one chunky piece will deliver an unpleasantly sharp bite that overwhelms the whole batch.
- Let the finished vinaigrette rest for at least ten minutes before tasting because the herbs need time to bloom and the flavors need time to settle into each other.