An easy authentic French Vinaigrette (Salad Dressing) recipe that quickly elevates everything from green salads (e.g. lettuce, romano, baby spinach), potato salads to grilled or roasted vegetables. Made in about 5 minutes, this salad dressing combines mustard, honey, fresh lemons, olive oil and more Mediterranean pantry staples in a beautifully balanced vinaigrette. Perfectly creamy and easy to whip up with just a bowl and a fork, this all-purpose salad dressing keeps well in the fridge for at least a week.
Today I’d like to share my favorite salad dressing, or vinaigrette francaise, with you all. It’s delightfully easy to make – child’s play, really – pairs beautifully with a wide range of salads and even grilled vegetables, and best of all, it keeps well in the fridge for at least a week.
Behind the Bites
The history of salad dressings in the Mediterranean is closely tied to the region’s most fundamental ingredients – olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and citrus. What we now call “salad dressing” has existed there for thousands of years, though usually in very simple forms.
In the ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean – particularly in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome – people commonly ate raw or lightly dressed vegetables. These were typically seasoned with olive oil, wine vinegar, salt, and herbs.
What distinguishes Mediterranean dressings historically is simplicity rather than heaviness. Unlike many modern creamy dressings, traditional Mediterranean ones highlight the flavor of good olive oil, bright acidity, fresh herbs, and seasonal vegetables.
With time, mustard became more common in dressings mainly through later European culinary traditions, particularly in France. The classic French vinaigrette often includes a little mustard, which helps emulsify the oil and vinegar. Not a bad choice if you ask me.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Olive oil – extra virgin
- Apple cider vinegar – or use
- Mustard – Dijon mustard or other
- Honey – always use liquid-y runny honey
- Lemon juice – fresh
- Sea salt – to taste
- Black pepper – to taste
- Oregano – dried or fresh, but should be finely chopped
How to prepare the French Vinaigrette?
1st: Add the olive oil and honey into one bowl. Stir vigorously to combine well.
2nd: Then, add in the rest of the ingredients. Transfer to a small jar with a lid and share vigorously. Let sit in the fridge up to a week and use for salads of choice.
French Vinaigrette (5 min salad dressing)
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp. olive oil, extra virgin
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp. honey, or agave/maple syrup
- 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard, or similar
- 2 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. sea salt, or less to taste
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper, or to taste
- 1 tbsp. oregano, fresh or dried
Instructions
- In a small mixing bowl combine honey and olive oil. Stir well until honey dissolves and homogenizes with the oil.
- Then, add in the mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper and oregano.
- Shake the jar with the dressing well, then use in a salad of choice. Shake the jar every time before use.
- Store in the fridge in air-tight container up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
This post may contain affiliate links, please see full disclosure here.
Thank you for sharing this recipe, I made salad with lettuce and prepared this salad dressing. It was marvelous 🤩
It really is marvelous indeed. Thank you.