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My Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe is light, refreshing, and full of zingy, bright lemon flavor! This easy recipe for vinaigrette salad dressing comes together in minutes and is packed with bright lemony flavor. It's more than a salad dressing, too - use it as a dipping sauce for veggies, or even as a marinade!
Jump to:
- Lemon Vinaigrette
- Lemon Salad Dressing Ingredients
- How to Make Lemon Vinaigrette
- Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing Tips
- Lemon Vinaigrette Dressings FAQs
- How to Store Lemon Salad Dressing
- How to Make Lemon Vinaigrette Without Mustard
- Lemon Vinaigrette Recipes Variations
- How to Use Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
- Easy Salad Dressing Recipes
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- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Reviews
Lemon Vinaigrette
It's time to start making your own homemade salad dressing! It's an easy way to control the nutrition of your salads, while also maximizing flavor. My easy Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing is a perfect way to dress a simple green salad or boost flavor with a plate of steamed vegetables.
There really isn't a better feeling than walking right past the salad dressing section at the grocery store, knowing I can mix something up at home my family will love more than anything bought in a bottle. Making homemade lemon olive oil dressing is so simple - you only need a few ingredients and a jar to store it in!
Vinaigrette recipes are not only easy to make, but completely versatile. The fresh lemony flavors mixed with olive oil result in a creamy consistency, creating a great sauce for grilled chicken, seafood, or veggie plates!
Lemon Salad Dressing Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil
- White balsamic vinegar
- Sugar
- Salt
- Pepper
- Lemon juice + zest
- Garlic powder
- Dry mustard
- Onion powder
How to Make Lemon Vinaigrette
- Add all dressing ingredients to a jar.
- Screw on the lid, then shake well. Store until ready to use, and be sure to shake or whisk it again before using.
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing Tips
- To avoid a bitter dressing, only zest the yellow outer part of the lemon. Try to avoid the inner white area known as the pith.
- Though this can be whisked in a bowl, I like to make this dressing in a mason jar for easy mixing, pouring, and storing.
- Remember to always use fresh lemons over a store-bought jar of lemon juice!
- Remember, vinaigrette is more than a salad dressing! Try it as a sauce or marinade!
- My lemon vinaigrette recipe is gluten-free, but as always make sure to check each product before using it to ensure food safety.
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressings FAQs
Lemon vinaigrette is a combination of fresh lemon juice with zest, olive oil, mustard powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, white balsamic vinegar, onion powder, and sugar. Simply mix ingredients into a mason jar and shake!
Lemon vinaigrette could be bitter from zesting the white area around the lemon, otherwise known as the "pith." This is bitter in flavor and will make your vinaigrette bitter as well. Try to only zest the yellow most outer layer by continuously moving the zester around the entire surface of the lemon.
How to Store Lemon Salad Dressing
- Refrigerator: Homemade lemon vinaigrette can be stored in an airtight container placed in the fridge for up to 1 week! Always shake or whisk the vinaigrette before using it again, as the layers tend to separate in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: Freeze lemon vinaigrette for up to 6 months when stored in an airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure to give the vinaigrette a good whisk or shake after thawed as freezing a vinaigrette can change the consistency of the dressing. Label the storage container with the freezing date.
How to Make Lemon Vinaigrette Without Mustard
Many vinaigrette recipes utilize Dijon mustard as a way to emulsify a dressing, giving it a thicker consistency (this happens when the mustard reacts with a fat, typically oil). Because this recipe is made in a mason jar, shaking the oil with the balsamic vinegar creates a similar effect.
My lemon vinaigrette recipe is an easy way to make vinaigrette without using actual mustard. Instead, I use dry mustard powder to mimic the tangy, sharp flavors.
If you do not want any of the mustard flavors, simply omit the mustard powder and follow the recipe according to the instructions.
Lemon Vinaigrette Recipes Variations
- Lemon Honey Vinaigrette: Make as instructed, but substitute sugar for an equal amount of honey to add a floral aroma and sweet balance to this dressing. I love to use local, seasonal honey-orange blossom, wildflower, sage, or clover, to name a few!
- Lemon Basil Vinaigrette: Make as instructed and cut 4-6 fresh basil leaves into thin strips to add either directly to the dressing, or sprinkle over the top of your salad after you pour the dressing on it.
- Lemon Caesar Vinaigrette: Make as instructed, but leave out the onion, garlic, or mustard powder. Add one small minced shallot, 2 cloves of minced garlic, 2 minced anchovy filets, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, and 6 tablespoons of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Shake vigorously.
My recipe for lemon vinaigrette is the perfect base to make a variety of fantastic lemon dressings. Simply changing an ingredient here or there can completely change the profile of this sauce!
How to Use Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
- Lemon Grilled Chicken: Marinate 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts for up to 3 hours (or overnight) in my easy lemon vinaigrette, then chargrill until perfectly cooked (about 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F). If you do not want to marinade the chicken, simply grill the breasts using a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Serve the lemon vinaigrette overtop as a sauce.
- Seafood: Lemon and seafood are a combination as old as time, and this lemon vinaigrette is a perfect way to marinate shrimp, scallops, or even to serve as a sauce with pan-seared salmon!
- Vegetarian: For an easy dinner idea, make your favorite pasta and simply toss it with easy lemon vinaigrette! Serve with a fresh sprinkling of parmesan cheese.
- Drizzle over roasted cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, or a hummus bowl.
- Use as a dressing for shaved brussels sprouts with pecans, wild rice, dried cranberries, and goat cheese.
Easy Salad Dressing Recipes
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Coleslaw Dressing
- Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing
- Champagne Vinaigrette
- Vietnamese Salad Dressing
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe
Equipment
- 1 jar with lid
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- zest from one lemon
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar and screw on the lid.½ cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 Tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, 3 teaspoons sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, zest from one lemon, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon dry mustard, ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- Shake well until completely mixed. Use immediately, or store until ready to use (up to 1 week in the refrigerator, 6 months frozen). After storing, give it a good shake before using.
Video
Notes
- To avoid a bitter dressing, only zest the yellow outer part of the lemon. Try to avoid the inner white area known as the pith.
- Though this can be whisked in a bowl, I like to make this dressing in a mason jar for easy mixing, pouring, and storing.
- Remember to always use fresh lemons over a store-bought jar of lemon juice!
- Remember, vinaigrette is more than a salad dressing! Also, try it as a sauce or marinade!
- My lemon vinaigrette recipe is gluten-free, but as always make sure to check each product before using it to ensure food safety.
Nutrition
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