Simple Vinaigrette Recipe

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Apr. 20, 2020
20140930-how-to-dress-a-salad-vinaigrette-14.jpg
A perfectly dressed light green salad is really the only side dish you need in your arsenal, and this is the all-purpose vinaigrette you need to do it. . J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

A super-simple vinaigrette appropriate for all lightly dressed green salads.

Why this recipe works:

  • A 3-to-1 ratio of oil to vinegar makes for a perfectly smooth, thick emulsion.
  • Dijon mustard helps emulsify the oil and vinegar/water while shallots add mild sweetness.

Recipe Details

Simple Vinaigrette Recipe

Active 5 mins
Total 5 mins
Serves 8 servings
Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 1 small clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon water

  • 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Combine shallot, garlic, mustard, vinegar, and water in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in olive oil. Alternatively, place all ingredients in a tightly sealing jar, seal, and shake vigorously until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Vinaigrette will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
183 Calories
20g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 183
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 113mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 3mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 11mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)