A while back someone asked me how to make a basic vinaigrette. She was concerned about some salad dressings not being gluten free, and she didn’t want to feed them to her child who has celiac disease.
A basic vinaigrette is really the easiest thing you could ever make.
The standard ratio is:
3 parts oil
1 part acid (lemon, lime, vinegar, etc.)
Salt and Pepper to taste
Whisk them together, or shake them up in a jar and dinner is ready!
Once you have the basics you can start playing around.
Add a touch of mustard which help help the emulsion stay together. A basic vinaigrette is a temporary emulsion, but the mustard helps hold it all together.
Mince some fresh herbs and add them.
Throw in a touch of honey and dijon mustard for a honey mustard vinaigrette.
Blend in some white wine vinegar, avocado and tarragon for a take on Greek Goddess dressing.
The possibilities are endless.
Vinaigrettes aren’t just for salads either. They make fabulous marinades for meat or vegetables. You could even toss a vinaigrette with pasta for a refreshing pasta salad.
Really, if you look at the ingredients on a bottle of salad dressing there are easy ways for you to recreate it at home. Break the dressing down to the simplest components. There will be a fat, an acid, and flavorings. Leave out all of the stabilizers, preservatives and colorings and you’re good to go.
By making dressings from scratch you’re not only going to save money, but you’re going to save yourself from eating a lot of things that we shouldn’t necessarily eat.
Don’t be afraid. Grab a measuring cup, a bowl, and a whisk. That’s all you need. Heck, you don’t even need the measuring cup. This is something so easy you can eyeball it and I often do.
Sometimes I don’t even mix it together. I might just pour a little olive oil over my salad, a little vinegar, and sprinkle on some S&P.
For another beautiful and light way to dress your salad evenly check out this post I found this morning at markbittman.com
Finally, for a salad to go with your newly made vinaigrette check out Jamie Oliver’s simple chopped salad. He’s got the ratio right there for you too!
