Simple Homemade Salad Dressing Recipe
A simple and versatile salad dressing combining vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, garlic, lemon zest, honey, and herbs. This dressing adds a bright, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor to leafy salads or vegetables, perfect for everyday use and easy to customize with your favorite herbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: Enough to dress a salad for 4 people
- Category: Salad Dressing
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice (cider vinegar recommended)
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or other neutral oil)
- 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (or other non-spicy smooth mustard)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 – 1 small garlic clove, pressed or smashed
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp honey
- Finely chopped fresh herbs (amount to taste)
- 1/2 tsp dried herbs (optional)
- Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Place all the dressing ingredients, including optional fresh and dried herbs and red pepper flakes, into a jar.
- Shake Well: Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the mustard is fully dissolved and the dressing is well emulsified.
- Dress Salad: Use the dressing to coat a large leafy salad for 4 people or a garden salad with approximately 4 big handfuls of lettuce by drizzling and tossing well just before serving.
- Storage: Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to several weeks if garlic and fresh herbs are excluded. Shake well before each use to re-emulsify.
- Use on Vegetables: You can also drizzle this dressing over steamed, boiled, or roasted vegetables while they are still hot to help absorb the flavors.
Notes
- Note 1: You can use any preferred vinegar or lemon juice, but cider vinegar offers a nice, mild tang.
- Note 2: Pressing or smashing the garlic clove releases more flavor into the dressing.
- Note 3: The combination of sugar and honey balances acidity and adds subtle sweetness.
- Make sure salad leaves are dry before dressing to help the dressing adhere better.
Keywords: salad dressing, vinaigrette, easy salad dressing, homemade dressing, olive oil dressing, honey mustard dressing
