This classic French vinaigrette is my go-to for a simple and quick dressing whenever I need a flavorful, delicious, and EASY salad dressing.
Its rich, flavorful and is the perfect addition to any greens, salads, or grilled veggies!
This recipe pays homage to my French heritage, passed down from generation to generation, a classic French salad dressing is a French kitchen staple (as important as good mustard!) and something that always reminds me of ma famille.
I first learned how to make this French salad dressing from my French Aunt, who learned from her French aunt, and someday I hope to have a niece I can teach too.
This authentic recipe is something that anyone can learn how to make! Regardless of your roots, you will love knowing this delicious recipe to take your salads to the next level.
With just a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen, you’ll never have to buy salad dressing again. Allowing you to control the ingredients and flavor, you will impress everyone at your next get together! Ready? Let’s dive in!
Enjoying fresh greens from the market (with baguette and proper French butter) as a late lunch is admittedly one of my favorite past times, whether I am in France or not.
While I do like to prepare meals for the week, sometimes, I just don’t have time, but preparing a big batch of simple French salad dressing to have on hand is one of the best ways I can ensure that my greens and roasted veggies are always flavorful.
Making your own homemade salad dressing is beyond easy. The key? high quality ingredients.
The basics of a French salad dressing consist of: high quality extra virgin olive oil, wine vinegar (I usually prefer champagne vinegar over red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar), and mustard, mais oui!
Understanding the basics of what creates a good salad dressing will always leave your guests impressed!
Using the foundational three ingredients as a starting point, you can play with additional ingredients such as fresh lemon juice, fresh herbs, red onion, shallots, fresh garlic…Well, you get the idea!
What Is French Dressing Anyway?
If you are used to the American way of French Dressing, you probably think of the type of dressing that is sweet and creamy with a tomato base.
In the United States, French dressing is a more similar to a Thousand Island dressing. However, classic French vinaigrette is far from white sugar laden and rather than covering up the flavors of your veg, it brightens the earthy and green flavors, perfectly complimenting the star of the show.
Depending on your flavor preference, vinaigrette recipes can vary from sweet, tart, herby, etc.
I prefer a little more ‘bite’ to my dressings, but you can always add a touch of sweetness by adding a bit of honey. Doing so also makes the dressing creamier and helps brighten the flavors.
The recipe I will share with you today is a homemade French dressing recipe passed down from my Aunt Michelle! She has shared a few recipes with us on here like this Pear Tart with Candied Walnuts and Authentic French Crepes – one of my favorites!
The Importance of a Good Olive Oil
It may not seem like a big deal, but having a high-quality extra virgin olive oil at home can make all the difference in your recipes. Especially salad dressings!
The type of olive oil you use to cook with will vary greatly in production and flavor compared to the type of olive oil used in a vinaigrette.
You have probably heard more than once about the health benefits of olive oil, and finding an olive oil that you really love will make sure you are able to reap those benefits for your brain, heart, and overall health.
To the discerning tastebud, olive oil can add range of different flavors as well: some more fruity and some more peppery – its truly such a versatile oil that can make or break a dish!
A high quality olive oil paired with a green salad is one of my favorite pairings to really experience the flavor.
My very favorite comes from McEvoy ranch outside of Sonoma. I love their ethos, story, and quality.
What Is an Emulsion?
An emulsion is a blend of two liquids that normally wouldn’t blend together – in our case, olive oil and vinegar.
When adding oil to dressings, it is always best practice to add in your oil as the last step! Don’t forget to add it in slowly! This ensures that everything is properly mixed together for the perfectly creamy dressing
Why Add an Egg Yolk to French Dressings?
Eggs are a wonderful addition to salad dressings, and you may have more commonly heard of egg yolk being added in a Caesar dressing.
While adding more creaminess to the dressing, the egg yolk in this case acts as the emulsifier and keeps the vinegar and oil from separating.
You might be hesitant to add raw egg to a dressing, but just like a good Fizz cocktail, the flavor it adds is completely worth it!
How to Store the Dressing
Because this dressing contains raw egg yolk, I do not recommend storing this for more than three days in the refrigerator.
How to Use French Vinaigrette
Of course, pairing this with fresh greens is always amazing, but I also really love using this recipe as a way to brighten my grilled veggies, too! My favorite salad to pair this with is my Endive Salad!
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The Recipe
French Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Raw Garlic
- 1 Extra Large Egg Yolk – Room Temperature
- ¾ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions
- Finely chop raw garlic.
- Combine all ingredients except the olive oil and mix well.
- Once everything is mixed, slowly add in olive oil last while quickly whisking.
- Store in a jar in the fridge for up to 3 days.
