Name: Basic Vinaigrette (Plus 6 Variations)
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 0.25 cup white-wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; 0.25 teaspoon salt; 0.5 teaspoon pepper; Pinch of sugar; 0.75 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Basic Vinaigrette (Plus 6 Variations)

3.3

(150)

1 Review

This vinaigrette is made with just four ingredients—and it tastes so much better than store-bought salad dressings.

Martha Stewart

Updated on January 11, 2024

Prep Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

5 mins

Yield:

1 cup

With just four ingredients (ones you likely already have in your kitchen) you can make this basic vinaigrette recipe in less than five minutes—no peeling, chopping, or zesting necessary. Simply measure out the ingredients and combine them, except for the olive oil. Whisk them together in a bowl or shake them up in a jar. Then drizzle in the oil (or add it to the jar and shake again). That's it—the vinaigrette is ready to top your favorite green salad or steamed vegetables. And with six variations, you'll have a repertoire of seven different vinaigrette recipes to shake up your salad routine.

basic vinaigrette in a sealed jar — Clive Streeter

When to Use Vinaigrette

You may think a vinaigrette is for a green leafy salad, and you'd be right, but that's not the only way to use this classic salad dressing. Try it on:

Potato salads
Pasta salads
Grain salads
Bean salads
Boiled or steamed vegetables, like green beans, asparagus, broccoli, or potatoes
As a marinade for grilled or broiled meat or fish
As a sauce for chicken, fish fillets, or whole fish when they come off the heat, just before serving
As a sauce over grilled vegetables before serving

Ingredients

¼ cup white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
Pinch of sugar
¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Combine all ingredients except oil:

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
Add oil:

Slowly add oil, whisking until emulsified.

Instead of whisking the vinaigrette, you can simply shake the ingredients together in a jar, or whirl them in a blender if you prefer.

6 Vinaigrette Variations to Try

It's easy to swap out or add ingredients to make different types of vinaigrette. Try these variations:

Garlic: Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic or 1/2 clove crushed.
Balsamic: Substitute balsamic vinegar for the wine vinegar.
Lemon Parmesan: Use fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar; add 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan.
Scallion: Add 3 chopped whole scallions (about 1/4 cup).
Herb: Add 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs, such as thyme, parsley, or tarragon.
Blue Cheese: Add 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, such as Roquefort.

Originally appeared: Everyday Food, September 2006

Updated by

Victoria Spencer