Buzz
A vinaigrette consists mainly of two ingredients: oil and an acid—usually vinegar or lemon juice. Other additions might include mustard, sweeteners, herbs, and spices. However, the oil and acid are the foundation. While you might think the oil must be premium extra virgin olive oil and the acid an expensive, aged vinegar, that's not the case. It's entirely possible to craft a fantastic vinaigrette using budget-friendly vegetable oil and strong white vinegar.
By themselves, neither oil nor vinegar has a strong taste. Vegetable oil is neutral, offering only texture, while white vinegar brings only the sharpness of acetic acid. Though both are basic, that's fine. It's easy to make a delicious vinaigrette with these unassuming pantry staples—you simply need to add a bit more flavor from other ingredients in your recipe.
My go-to vinaigrette recipe uses a 4:4:1:1 ratio: 4 parts oil, 4 parts acid, 1 part mustard, and 1 part liquid sweetener, plus herbs and spices to taste. This works well with more flavorful oils and vinegars, but with basic, inexpensive ones, it can taste too tart and flat. To balance this, reduce both the oil and acid to 2 parts each, and pick a mustard and sweetener with bold flavors. This will allow the mustard and sweetener to stand out, creating a cleaner and more vibrant flavor. (For extra depth, try adding some herbs or spices.)
And ‘distinct flavor’ doesn’t have to mean ‘expensive.’ Honey, maple syrup, and syrups made from wine, orange peels, or brown sugar all bring unique flavors without the hefty price tag. Just steer clear of simple syrup made with table sugar, as it only adds sweetness without much character.
Likewise, mustard doesn’t need to break the bank. Your go-to Dijon will do just fine, as will any stone-ground variety. Both are rich in flavor and contain mucilage, which, while sounding unpleasant, is actually the key to keeping your vinaigrette from separating.
Lastly, while whisking can be charming, I strongly recommend emulsifying your dressing by shaking it up in a jar. It works far better than any whisk or ‘emulsifying bottle’ I’ve tried, plus you get a nice arm workout to boot.
Simple, Budget-Friendly Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 pinch of salt
Place all ingredients in a jar, seal it tightly, and shake until emulsified. That's all there is to it. Now, enjoy your salad.
