How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (2024)

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Danilo Alfaro

How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (1)

Danilo Alfaro

Danilo Alfaro has published more than 800 recipes and tutorials focused on making complicated culinary techniques approachable to home cooks.

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Updated on 12/16/22

Tested by

Victoria Heydt

How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (2)

Tested byVictoria Heydt

Victoria Heydt is a food photographer, stylist, and the Editorial Director for The Spruce Eats. An Institute of Culinary Education grad, she also develops and tests recipes.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Prep: 3 mins

Cook: 0 mins

Rest Time: 30 mins

Total: 33 mins

Servings: 4 servings

Yield: 1 cup

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This recipe is a template since, when you get right down to it, oil and vinegar dressing is simply a particular ratio of oil to vinegar. This means you can take any kind of oil or vinegar you have available, plug them into the template, and have it come out right. The same goes for the seasonings—salt and pepper are essential—but beyond that, you can add a pinch of garlic powder, some fresh parsley, or whatever you have on hand. Just don't overdo it.

Red Wine Vinegar Recipe

The ratio for vinaigrette is 3-to-1: three parts oil to one part vinegar. This formula will always work, but that doesn't mean it will be perfect 100 percent of the time. Not every vinegar is the same strength, for one thing. It's a rough guideline that allows for plenty of tweaking to suit your tastes.

Making the dressing is amatter of combining the oil and vinegar along with any seasonings and flavorings and physically mixing them up to form a temporary emulsion. An incredibly efficient way to do this is to combine the ingredients in a glass jar, screw the lid on tightly, and shake.

How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (4)

"This dressing was incredibly simple to make. The instructions and measurements were accurate, and I liked that it was shaken then stored in the same container. I dressed a simple salad of lettuce, tomato, red onions, salt, and pepper, and this was great. It’s definitely a terrific staple to keep on hand." —Victoria Heydt

How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (5)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup salad oil

  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or more to taste

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper (or freshly ground black pepper, to taste)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (6)

  2. Place the oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a glass jar. Tighten the lid and shake vigorously for about 10 seconds or until fully combined.

    How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (7)

  3. Let stand for 30 minutes at room temperature to let the flavors meld. Give the dressing a good whisk immediately before serving. Serve with your favorite salad.

    How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (8)

Tips

  • Thisoil and vinegar recipe calls for salad oil, which means anything from safflower oil to canola oil to grapeseed oil. You could, of course, use something with a bit more of a distinctive flavor, such as walnut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil.
  • While this vinaigrette recipe calls for white wine vinegar, other kinds of vinegar can add flavor. Red wine vinegar adds excellent flavor, and balsamic is terrific and will take you in a whole different direction. The only thing you should stay entirely away from is plain distilled white vinegar, which is good for household cleaning, but not so much for salad dressings.
  • When experimenting with flavor combinations, be sure to taste and adjust as you go. A good way to taste is by dipping a piece of lettuce in the dressing.
  • Freshly ground black pepper is the best. Those little boxes of pre-ground pepper are 90 percent stale before you even get them home.
  • Store leftover oil and vinegar dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. Let come to room temperature and shake well before using.

Recipe Variations

  • A teaspoon of honey and/or mustard will not only add flavor but will also help stabilize the emulsion so the dressing won't separate as quickly.
  • A squeeze of citrus, like lemon, lime, orange, or blood orange can be a nice addition.
  • Finely chopped fresh herbs like parsley, tarragon, or thyme add fresh flavor. Dried herbs are also good for mixing up the flavor. Anything from dried rosemary to oregano to red pepper flakes works nicely.
  • For a garlic vinaigrette, add one garlic clove finely grated or minced to the mixture.
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  • American Food
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
362Calories
41g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories362
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 41g52%
Saturated Fat 6g28%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 316mg14%
Total Carbohydrate 0g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0mg2%
Potassium 1mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

  • sauce
  • oil and vinegar dressing
  • dinner
  • american

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How to Make an Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing (2024)

FAQs

What is oil and vinegar dressing made of? ›

The Basic Vinaigrette Formula

Using this basic formula, there are almost endless variations. For instance, you could use one tablespoon of cider vinegar and three tablespoons of olive oil. Or you could make a big batch of dressing and use 1/4 cup of vinegar mixed with 3/4 cups olive oil.

What is the ratio of oil to vinegar when making a vinaigrette? ›

Here is a perfect example of a culinary ratio, one that's fairly standard: The 3-to-1 vinaigrette, or 3 parts oil, 1 part vinegar.

How do you combine oil and vinegar? ›

Oil and Vinegar are essential in creating an optimal emulsion – where the two ingredients bind together so well that you can't separate them even when shaken vigorously. An optimal emulsion happens when you combine these ingredients in equal parts with a ratio of three parts oil to one part vinegar (3:1).

What kind of oil and vinegar is best for salads? ›

Meyer Lemon Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Mango Pulp Vinegar- a sweet, citrusy flavor combination that's great for summer salads, chicken, fruit salads, and salsas. Tuscan Herb Extra Virgin Olive Oil + Balsamic Reduction- tastes like a classic Italian restaurant bread dip or vinaigrette.

What is the healthiest oil and vinegar dressing? ›

A good extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar salad dressing is one of the better dressings for a salad. Try buying a good extra virgin olive oil.

What is the best vinegar to mix with olive oil? ›

Lemon infused olive oil and honey balsamic vinegar is good for salads or can be used as a marinade for chicken. Orange infused olive oil goes well with dark chocolate balsamic vinegar. Use for desserts and ice cream. Oregano olive oil with lemon balsamic vinegar is great for marinades.

What is the best vinegar for salad dressing? ›

Balsamic vinegar: Makes a bold, slightly sweet dressing that is wonderful on green salads with fruit, such as apples, strawberries or peaches. Red wine vinegar: Packs a punch and works well with other bold flavors and bright veggies, like tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, cabbage and more (think Greek salads).

Do you mix oil or vinegar first? ›

The basic ratio for vinaigrette is 1:3 or one part vinegar to three parts oil. Always start with the vinegar and always end with the oil.

What is a simple mixture of oil and vinegar? ›

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.

How long does homemade vinegar and oil dressing last? ›

Vinegar based homemade dressings should last for three to four weeks at a minimum if they consist of oil, vinegar and spices. eIf they also contain fresh ingredients, then the time is shortened according to that ingredient.

Does homemade oil and vinegar dressing need to be refrigerated? ›

Sims notes that unless your vinaigrette is a mixture of just oil and vinegar, refrigeration is your best bet from a food-safety standpoint. "If you add in vegetables and/or herbs, the potential growth for Clostridium botulinum becomes a factor," she said.

What oil and vinegar does Jersey Mike's use? ›

Red wine vinegar and an olive oil blend. It's how a Jersey Mike's sub gets its exquisite zing. It's how bites get boosted, and a great sub becomes an even better one. The Juice adds that certain something extra.

What is the ratio of oil to vinegar? ›

The same goes for the seasonings—salt and pepper are essential—but beyond that, you can add a pinch of garlic powder, some fresh parsley, or whatever you have on hand. Just don't overdo it. The ratio for vinaigrette is 3-to-1: three parts oil to one part vinegar.

Do you put oil or vinegar on salad first for salad dressing? ›

According to Hazan, "the acid of vinegar, like that of lemon, 'cooks' a salad, which explains why the oil is poured first, to protect the greens."

Is oil and vinegar healthier than salad dressing? ›

Oil and vinegar.

In general, dressings with fewer ingredients tend to be healthier. And it doesn't get any simpler than oil and vinegar. “This is a great option, because it won't have any added sugar or salt,” says Allers.

What is the healthiest dressing to put on your salad? ›

6 healthy salad dressings you can make in less than 3 minutes
  • Classic lemon and olive oil. This is a very easy dressing that is good with strong-flavoured leaf salads, such as rocket or kale. ...
  • Lime and chilli dressing. ...
  • Simple balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  • Raspberry vinaigrette. ...
  • Creamy cucumber dressing. ...
  • Creamy mint dressing.

How to store homemade oil and vinegar dressing? ›

Store leftover oil and vinegar dressing in a sealed container in the fridge for up to five days. Let come to room temperature and shake well before using.

Why does oil and vinegar dressing have two layers? ›

A polar substance will not dissolve a nonpolar substance. In the case of oil and vinegar, the vinegar is polar and more dense than the oil, so it settles on the bottom of the container. The oil is nonpolar and less dense, so it doesn't dissolve in the vinegar, and it floats on top.

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