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Square side shot of a lemon vinaigrette recipe in a glass bottle on a white table.
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Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing

A light and fresh homemade salad dressing in just minutes!
Course condiment, Salad, Sides
Cuisine American, Mediterranean
Keyword lemon vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette dressing, lemon vinaigrette recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 5 servings (2 tablespoons each)
Calories 139kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 large lemon)
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 small clove garlic, minced or grated (or ¼ teaspoon garlic powder)
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
  • Ground black pepper, to taste
  • ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  • In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, garlic, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, and black pepper.
    Whisking together the ingredients for a lemon vinaigrette dressing.
  • Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking continuously until the dressing emulsifies and becomes slightly creamy. (If using a jar, you can simply add everything and shake well.) Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more honey for sweetness or salt for balance.
    Process shot showing how to make lemon vinaigrette in a glass measuring cup.
  • Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The oil in the dressing will solidify when chilled, so allow time for the dressing to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for shaking (or whisking) and serving.
    Square overhead shot of a wooden bowl full of a green salad tossed with the best lemon vinaigrette recipe.

Notes

This simple, rustic vinaigrette is elegant enough to toss with a bowl of spring mix and call it good! A simply dressed green salad like that is a nice, acidic balance when served on top of cast iron deep dish pizza, Parmesan crusted chicken (chicken Milanese), pork schnitzel, or oven fried chicken breast.
For a "fancier" or more elaborate salad that's still easy to throw together in just minutes, combine your favorite lettuce or mixed greens with sliced cucumbers, thinly sliced red onion, toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds, shaved Parmesan or crumbled feta cheese, and croutons if you like.
This recipe yields approximately 2/3 cup (or slightly less than 11 tablespoons).

Nutrition

Serving: 2tablespoons | Calories: 139kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 16mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg