Simple Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe | Nourishing Meals® (2024)

FAQs

What do you do with a vinaigrette? ›

They are great as a marinade for grilled or broiled foods; to dress salads made from pastas, grains, vegetables, and beans; as a dip; as a sauce served with hot or cold entrées and appetizers; or brushed on some sandwiches.

Vinaigrette (/ˌvɪnɪˈɡrɛt/ VIN-ih-GRET, French: [vinɛɡʁɛt]) is made by mixing an oil with a mild acid such as vinegar or lemon juice (citric acid). The mixture can be enhanced with salt, herbs and/or spices. It is used most commonly as a salad dressing, but can also be used as a marinade.

For a traditional vinaigrette, you'll need to mix about 3 tablespoons of oil to 1 tablespoon of vinegar. You'll also want to add some salt and pepper to taste. Of course, for all four ingredients, the better the quality you use, the better your vinaigrette will taste.

"The higher fat, higher calorie creamy dressings such as Caesar, blue cheese or ranch pack about 110-120 calories and 12g fat per 2 tablespoons, which is almost double of some vinaigrettes," says Harris-Pincus.

How Long Does Homemade Vinaigrette Last? Traditional vinaigrettes, like the balsamic version listed below, will last longer—sometimes up to a few weeks. However, anything with fresh garlic should be consumed within a few days, as the combination of garlic and oil can form harmful bacteria over time.

Sweetness balances out acidity, spice, and bitterness. A salad composed of bitter greens may benefit from a sweeter dressing. But sweetness can come from sources other than one-note white sugar; consider honey, pureed dates, maple syrup, jam, or molasses as sweeteners that also add flavor and mouth-feel.

To make this recipe, you'll want to haul out your blender, plus four ingredients, including red-wine vinegar, honey, canned chipotles in adobo, and dried oregano (not counting basics like salt, pepper, oil and water). In Chipotle locations, they use their chipotle marinade in place of the canned chipotles.

Chef Tips. Adding water to dressings is a way to cut down on the oil and make the dressing lighter. You can also substitute apple cider vinegar in place of white wine vinegar.

Why does vinaigrette need to be refrigerated? ›

Salad Dressing

It may be obvious to store creamy ranch dressing on your refrigerator's shelf, but oily dressings such as Italian or a vinaigrette should be kept cold after opening too. That's because their key ingredients—think things such as shallots and citrus juice—will go rancid without refrigeration.

Put the mustard, vinegar and olive oil in a jar and season. Shake vigorously to mix. Store in a cool place (not the fridge) until ready to use. Use for all your salads or try one of our recipes, right.

A much better ratio flavor and texture-wise is three-to-one oil to water-based liquid. For a particularly mild vinaigrette with a nice texture, I sometimes cut my vinegar or citrus juice in half and bulk it up with regular water. As your vinaigrette starts to come together, you can add the oil a bit more rapidly.

#1 Rule – Do Not put the dressing on or salt a salad until just before serving. Prepare salad dressing 2-3 hours before serving and chill. Choose fresh, quality products and prepare salad just before serving.

Vinaigrette offers a lighter and tangier option compared to many traditional creamy salad dressings. It typically consists of oil, vinegar, and seasonings, providing a refreshing flavor without the heaviness of creamy alternatives.