How to make vinaigrette

How to make vinaigrette

How to make vinaigrette

by Great British Chefs17 July 2015

How to make vinaigrette

A vinaigrette is the most classic of dressings. Often known more commonly as French dressing, the basic dressing starts out as vinegar, oil and salt; which is really all it takes to bring a crisp lettuce, or simple salad, to life. It is worth remembering, however, that something so simple requires the very best ingredients to make it shine, so make sure you buy the highest quality vinegar and oil you can find.

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

  • 50ml of white wine vinegar
  • 150ml of oil, use a flavourless oil such as grapeseed
  • 1 pinch of salt
1
Place the vinegar and salt into a bowl and whisk together
2
Whisking all the time, slowly drizzle in the oil until emulsified

Tips

It is also just as easy to put all the ingredients into an empty jam jar and give it a good shake, and you can adjust the quantities accordingly as long as the ratio remains 3 parts oil to one part vinegar. To make a vinaigrette that stays emulsified for longer, blitz in an upright blender.

Variations

There are many flavours that can be added to enhance the flavour of a vinaigrette, the most common being mustard. Any type of mustard can be used, and its inclusion also helps the dressing remain emulsified, and therefore thicker, for longer. Other additions could include minced garlic, shallots or chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, tarragon or chives. You could also substitute the white wine vinegar for sherry, cider or balsamic vinegars. Different oils could also be used from extra virgin olive oil or rapeseed, to something a little more unusual, such as hazelnut or avocado oil.

Serving suggestions

The obvious accompaniment for green salads, vinaigrettes also work well with many vegetables. Try using it to dress artichokes or asparagus, or even for a cold pasta salad with a mix of roasted vegetables.

Get in touch

Please sign in or register to send a comment to Great British Chefs.