How to make vinaigrette
It's fast, it's easy, and it tastes good
Homemade French salad dressing, or vinaigrette, is better and cheaper than almost anything you can buy. A combination of oil and vinegar (“vinaigrette” is the diminutive of vinaigre, the French word for vinegar), it can be flavored with fresh herbs and minced garlic or shallot.
Most recipes call for gradually whisking the oil into the vinegar until the two ingredients are emulsified. This results in a fairly stable vinaigrette, meaning that it will stay combined for a while (though eventually the oil and the vinegar will separate again). But we usually just shake the ingredients in a screw-top jar instead. The dressing won’t stay blended as long, but it certainly simplifies the process.
FOR EXCELLENT SALAD
Dry your lettuces well
Spin in a salad spinner or dry carefully between towels, or else you’ll have a bowl of sogginess.
Be sparing with dressing
Use less than you think you need (start with 2 tbsp. for 10 cups of salad) to help keep salad crisp. Once you’ve tossed and tasted, you can always add more.
Toss well but gently
Use your clean hands; they’re your best tools for coating leaves thoroughly without bruising them.
Allow space
Use a big bowl at least twice as big as the salad. Plenty of room makes it easier to toss the contents.
Dress at the last minute
For the crispest salad, dress and toss right before serving.
VARIATIONS
Using this basic formula, you can make many other tasty dressings.
Mix up the oil
For salads with toasted nuts and cheese, use walnut or hazelnut oil. Nut oils quickly turn rancid at room temperature, so store them in your refrigerator once you’ve opened them.
Use another acid
Balsamic vinegar is good for winter salads, like those with nuts, hearty cheeses, and root vegetables. Spring salads of tender greens or asparagus can be dressed with a milder vinaigrette that uses champagne vinegar, and a vinaigrette of sherry vinegar pairs beautifully with woodsy sautéed mushrooms. Citrus juice can be substituted for the vinegar too. If using a sweeter citrus fruit, such as oranges, add a bit of lemon juice to give the dressing a tart edge (taste it to make sure there’s enough of a tang). Straight lemon juice is milder than vinegar and is often used in a 1-to-1 ratio with the oil.
Try stir-ins
This means fresh herbs of any kind, or even a tsp. or 2 of tapenade, pesto, minced anchovy, or fruit jelly (like raspberry or currant). A pinch of white or brown sugar can round out the flavor too.
Make ahead
Double or triple the master recipe ― vinaigrette will keep, refrigerated, for up to 1 week. The oil will congeal, so let the dressing come to room temperature and shake well before using.
