Do you love a good salad but cannot find any store-bought dressing you like? That’s ok. Why? Because you can whip one up in the comfort of your home in 2 minutes or less! Homemade salad dressings and vinaigrettes are so much better than store-bought – and are super EASY to make! The best part? They’re way less expensive and have zero preservatives!

Salad dressing vs Vinaigrettes: What’s the difference?

A salad dressing is a liquid/sauce added to a salad to enhance the taste. Salad dressings can be split into 2 categories: Creamy dressings such as yogurt dressings, and mouth-watering vinaigrettes such as the classic lemon-garlic vinaigrette.

Bottom Line: A vinaigrette is a type of dressing BUT not all dressings are vinaigrettes.

Let’s talk basic ingredients & ratios

Vinaigrettes are made by combining 2 main ingredients (vinegar & oil), plus a dash of salt and pepper to taste. But don’t forget, spices and herbs will give your vinaigrettes a variety of flavors, which trust me, your taste buds will reAlly appreciate.

To make an epic vinaigrette, ratios are crucial. The traditional ratio for making a vinaigrette is 3: 1 (3 parts oil and 1 part vinegar), and a pinch of salt, and pepper to taste. I prefer a 2: 1 ratio, but you can always play around with the ratio to determine which one you prefer. Sounds pretty easy, right?! But that’s not all, if you want to take your vinaigrette to the next level, keep reading, almost there!

Here’s what you’ll need to make a mouth-watering vinaigrette:

1. Olive oil

I use virgin olive oil for my vinaigrettes most of the time, i totally recommend it, but feel free to use any oil of your choosing, e.g. sesame oil, which pairs well with Asian dishes.

2. Vinegar

Red/white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, OR balsamic vinegar. These kinds of vinegar will work well and have different flavors, but if you don’t have any vinegar in the pantry, a freshly squeezed lemon juice is also great.

3. Your favorite herbs/spices

This is where the fun begins! Salt & black pepper add flavor. However, what adds even more flavor is spices/herbs. At this point, whichever herbs and spices your heart desires I’d say Go for it! Some of the most commonly used vinaigrette spices and herbs are lemons, garlic, sesame seeds, cilantro, paprika, chili, etc.  

Bottom line: Oil + Acid + Spices = One epic vinaigrette

How to mix your vinaigrette

Oil and vinegar tend to separate, but you want them to blend (emulsify), at least till you can get it into your salad. There are 3 ways to mix them:

1. Blend (Emulsify)

Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until fully combined

2. A bowl and a whisk

Add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk away!

3. Shake them in a mason jar

Add all of the ingredients to a mason jar, screw on the lid, shake for a few seconds, and voila, your fresh homemade vinaigrette! It’s really that easy!

Tip: A touch of honey/maple syrup/sugar helps mellow down the vinegar’s acidity - while a bit of mustard helps round it out. Both honey and mustard are good emulsifiers!

Finally... Taste test

Once it’s mixed, taste and adjust the seasoning if need be, and you’re done. For the most precise idea of what the dressing will taste like on your salad, dip a leaf into the dressing, shake off the excess, and try. Yes! It's that simple! Vinaigrettes are not only used for salads, they are amazing for marinades too. They are arguably one of the quickest salad dressings to make. We’re talking about 2 minutes or less! Once you can make your homemade vinaigrettes there is no going back to store-bought.

Related: 5 Delectable DIY Vinaigrettes: With 2 Salad Ideas (Each)

If you try any of these tips or recipes and find them share-worthy – which I hope you do – please share. Tag #smodernhealth on Instagram and don’t forget to check out my other blog posts!