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French Vinaigrette Dressing is a quick, low calorie oil and vinegar based salad dressing. This homemade vinaigrette is sweet, tangy and the perfect salad dressing to pair with fresh leafy greens.
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Check out my Italian Herb Dressing and my Creamy Citrus Salad Dressing for more delicious dressing recipes.
I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year. It feels good to be back on track after the busy holiday season. After all of that holiday cooking, I've been really enjoying throwing together simple salads. I've been trying different ways to change them up, so I don't get bored.
Having a variety of homemade salad dressings is a great way to fight food boredom and make salad greens taste amazing. One dressing I've been making on repeat is this homemade French vinaigrette.
I almost always have the ingredients on hand and the dressing comes together in literally minutes. Paired with a bowl of leafy greens, this french dressing is simply the best, and I think everyone should have this recipe in their recipe box. Enjoy!
So what makes vinaigrette dressing French? Classic french vinaigrette dressings are made with an oil and vinegar base and include Dijon, shallots, and salt. This version also calls for fresh garlic and sugar. This dressing is the perfect balance of sweet and tangy.
French Vinaigrette should not be confused with French Dressing (the creamy red dressing). It is made creamy and thickened with mayo/ketchup and paprika is added for flavor and color.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Homemade dressing is so much better than store-bought. Homemade isn't loaded with chemicals and preservatives like its grocery store counterpart.
- It's quick. You can make this in a matter of minutes.
- French vinaigrette goes great with almost any salad.
- It's also a great marinade for vegetables, chicken, and fish.
- It's gluten-free and low carb.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Olive Oil: Serves as the base for this dressing. Choose good-quality olive oil for the best-tasting dressing.
- Rice Wine Vinegar: Adds the perfect amount of tang and flavor.
- Parsley (chopped): Adds a fresh flavor.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds sharp, mustardy flavor and a hint of spice.
- Minced Garlic: Adds bold savory flavor.
- Sugar: Helps mellow the acidity of the dressing
- Salt & Ground Pepper: Enhances the flavors in the dressing.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix ingredients.
In a large mixing bowl, add mustard, parsley, garlic, sugar, salt, and ground pepper. Mix well.
Step 2: Add olive oil and vinegar.
Whisk together until all ingredients are emulsified and fully combined.
Step 3: Store.
Transfer dressing to a mason jar, or container with a tight-fitting lid. Store in refrigerator. Shake well before each use.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- For best results, bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing. Room temperature oil is easier to emulsify.
- This dressing can serve a few purposes, so make a double or even triple batch. In addition to dressing salads, this dressing is a great marinade for vegetables, fish, and seafood.
- The parsley will naturally float to the top when stored and the oil and vinegar may separate. Simply give the container of dressing a good shake before each use.
Variations
This straightforward vinaigrette recipe is a great base for switching up the flavor profile. You can make an Italian-inspired dressing by adding freshly grated parmesan and a blend of Italian herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
Add fresh lemon juices and zest for a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing. Or you can also switch up the flavor by simply using a different vinegar. Balsamic, red wine, and champagne are great options.
How To Store Homemade Dressing
Store homemade vinaigrette dressing in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid or another container with a tight lid. Properly stored, this dressing will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. The flavor from the shallots and garlic won't be as bold the longer the dressing is stored.
Recipe FAQ‘s
Yes! This simple recipe is a blend of mustard, parsley, garlic, sugar, salt, and ground pepper and vinegar.
Oil and vinegar are the base of vinaigrette dressings. Adding different herbs and spices enhance the flavor.
More Dressing & Dip Recipes
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French Vinaigrette Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsely diced
- 1 teaspoon fresh minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon monk fruit sweetener or granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ounces olive oil
- 4 ounces rice wine vinegar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add mustard, parsley, garlic, sweetener, pepper and salt. Mix together well.
- Add olive oil and vinegar. Whisk together until all ingredients are fully combined.
- Transfer dressing to a mason jar, or dressing container with a lid that seals tight, and store in refrigerator. Shake well before each use.
Notes
- For best results, bring all ingredients to room temperature before mixing. Room temperature oil is easier to emulsify.
- This dressing can serve a few purposes, so make a double or even triple batch. In addition to dressing salads, this dressing is a great marinade for vegetables, fish, and seafood.
- The parsley will naturally float to the top when stored and the oil and vinegar may separate. Simply give the container of dressing a good shake before each use.
- This straightforward vinaigrette recipe is a great base for switching up the flavor profile. You can make an Italian-inspired dressing by adding freshly grated parmesan and a blend of Italian herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme.
- Add fresh lemon juices and zest for a delicious lemon vinaigrette dressing. Or you can also switch up the flavor by simply using a different vinegar. Balsamic, red wine, and champagne are great options.
- Storing: Store homemade vinaigrette dressing in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid or another container with a tight lid. Properly stored, this dressing will last up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. The flavor from the shallots and garlic won’t be as bold the longer the dressing is stored.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Tisha
This vinaigrette looks so great! This would be awesome on a salad or even used as a marinade!
Lauren
Yum! I love simple, easy vinaigrettes like these. They are such a great way to dress up salads, veggies and proteins. I think I'll try this one on a piece of whitefish.
Heidy L. McCallum
Hi there, I found your recipe on Pinterest and it looks amazing. Totally perfect for my salad I am making for our work potluck.
Jen
I love making my own dressings! The flavor is just so much better. This one just jumped to the top of my to try list.
Sue
I never buy bottled dressings anymore, all those chemicals are such a turn off, and it's so easy to make fabulous dressings like this at home.
Julia
I love making dressings from scratch because I know what I am putting in them. This one looks delicious!
Emily
This French vinaigrette is simple to make and so refreshing! Perfect for a simple side salad!
Victoria
This is one of my favorite easy vinaigrette recipes! I've tried it a few times with different ingredients in my salad, and this dressing is always a winner!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
This sounds like the perfect salad dressing for me - I love dressings but finding low calorie ones can be super difficult sometimes.
Dannii
This is one of my favourite dressings. The more herbs the better I say.
DMartini
Would it be OK to substitute Stevia or Splenda for the sugar?