A great vinaigrette dressing can transform a few green leaves in an amazing salad but what is the secret of a great vinaigrette?
Even though French people are better known as meat, cheese, wine…-lovers (what’s not to love in food???), we love our fruits and vegetables and a bowl of green salad may well be provided at every meal. I personally eat salad at least once a day.
A while back, I was invited to the Maille boutique, in central London. It felt really special because, as most French people, their products played a key role in some of my fondest child food memories, especially their wholegrain mustard, which is the one my mum used in her vinaigrette, yummmm*.
This vinaigrette dressing recipe is not the recipe of the classic French vinaigrette dressing, I’ll make sure to share this with you later on. This vinaigrette dressing recipe was the one of my mum. I would describe it as an a daring French vinaigrette with Italian and Asian influences. LOL. Let me explain…. Nowadays, you can find soy sauce and balsamic vinegar everywhere but when we were children this was not the case and as such this vinaigrette was a premium exotic treat :-) Give it a go anyway you’ll see how nice it is. This may sound funny but people often compliment me on my vinaigrette, I just thought I should give all the credit back to my mum!
So back to where we started… what is the secret of a great vinaigrette: a yummy recipe, quality ingredients, a keen cook :-) and maybe some sprinkles of childhood memories?!? What do you think?
My mum’s vinaigrette dressing
A daring French vinaigrette with Italian and Asian influences :) The optional honey is my personal touch, my boys love it!
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar or balsamic vinegar glaze
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tbsp wholegrain mustard
- 1/2 tbsp honey optional - great for children
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Mix well all the ingredients until well blended.
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Serve over your favourite salad mix.
I tend to make salad dressing for a week or so, keeping it in the fridge door, ready to use. For this I use this OXO good grips salad dressing shaker**, a present from my family (this clearly shows you I love food… ahahahah).
* I got a couple of samples to take home but I did not get sponsored to write this post. I would tell you as I want to be 100% transparent with you. Just sharing the experience :-) ** Affiliate link.
Lovely photos Helene – a really clever way of showing what goes into the dressing! I love a crisp green salad and a lovely light punchy dressing is definitely a must :-)
Thank you :-)
[…] husband and I love salad. I eat it mostly as a side for lunch and, as I explained in my mum’s vinaigrette dressing post, in France, a bowl of green salad may well be provided at every meal. At home, our little ones […]
I simply love this vinaigrette dressing. It makes everyone around the table want to eat more salad 🙂
Can you use whatever mustard you have at home and still get a good vinaigrette? We only have some creamy Dijon right now.
Hi Pam! Thank you for your readership. You can definitely try with a the creamy Dijon mustard. Simply add a little less as it is stronger. Have a nice day!