This Dijon mustard vinaigrette is bright, tangy, and full of flavor, with Dijon adding just enough body to help the dressing emulsify. Change the character of it easily with different oils, artisan vinegars, or styles of Dijon mustard, and add maple syrup for a lightly sweet maple Dijon vinaigrette variation that is especially good with fall salads, roasted vegetables, chicken, and pork.
With good Dijon, quality olive oil, and a vinegar you enjoy, this dressing comes together in minutes and tastes far better than bottled. Change the vinegar, use tarragon Dijon, add whole grain mustard for texture, or shake it in a jar or blend it until creamy. It's incredibly versatile, the
Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe Snapshot
- Simple pantry ingredients - Extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, and vinegar.
- Ready in 2 minutes - Shake it in a jar or blend until creamy.
- Endlessly adaptable - Change the vinegar, use flavored Dijon, or add whole grain mustard for texture.
- More than salad dressing - Delicious on salads, grain bowls, vegetables, chicken, fish, roasted potatoes, and more.
- Better than bottled - Fresh flavor with quality ingredients and no unnecessary additives - clean and simple.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Olive oil - Use a good extra virgin olive oil you enjoy.
- Vinegar - Try white wine vinegar, white balsamic vinegar, champagne vinegar, or tangy apple cider vinegar.
- Mustard - Buy a good French Dijon for the best flavor. It adds tang and emulsifies the dressing.
- Shallot - A little for the savoriness it adds (optional).
- Garlic - Optional, for a little depth of flavor (optional).
- Honey - Optional, just a bit to soften the vinegar if needed.
Chef's Tip: Dijon Does More Than Add Flavor
Dijon mustard gives this vinaigrette its tangy flavor, but it also emulsifies the vinaigrette so the oil and vinegar blend into a creamy, cohesive dressing. Use a good Dijon; in a simple recipe, quality makes a difference. Here's my favorite brand of Dijon.
Substitutions and Variations
- Flavored olive oil - Lemon olive oil and basil olive oils are two of my favorites for changing the flavor of this Dijon mustard vinaigrette. Lemon adds brightness, while basil gives it a fresh herbal note.
- Mustard - Use classic Dijon, tarragon Dijon, or add a spoonful of whole grain Dijon for texture.
- Vinegar - There are many artisan vinegars to play with when making Dijon mustard vinaigrette, and they all add their own twist.
- Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
Add 1-2 tablespoons pure maple syrup and adjust the vinegar to taste for a slightly sweeter dressing that's perfect for fall salads with apples, pears, roasted squash, pecans, and goat cheese.
Chef's Tip: A simple vinaigrette is one of the best places to taste the personality of a good vinegar. Try making the same recipe with white balsamic, champagne vinegar, a good white wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar-you'll be surprised how much the flavor changes.
How to Make a Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette
- Add everything to a jar with a tight fitting lid.
- Shake well until creamy and emulsified. You can also use a blender.
Serving Suggestions
Dijon mustard vinaigrette does much more than dress salads. Its creamy texture and tangy flavor also pair well with fish, grilled shrimp, chicken, roasted vegetables, grain bowls, and steamed or grilled vegetables. Spoon it over steamed salmon, use it as a dressing for chicken salad, seared scallops, or drizzle it over roast asparagus, green beans, air fryer potatoes, or roasted carrots.
Storage
Store Dijon mustard vinaigrette in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. The oil may firm up when chilled, so let the dressing sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes, then shake or whisk well before serving.
Recipe FAQs
White wine vinegar gives the dressing a clean, classic flavor. Champagne vinegar, sherry vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or fresh lemon juice also work well and each creates a slightly different flavor. Unseasoned rice vinegar is another option.
Yes. Use it as a short marinade for chicken, fish, or shrimp. Because it contains acid, avoid marinating delicate fish for too long, 20-30 minutes should be plenty of time.
More Recipes with Dijon
If Dijon mustard is a pantry stape for you, try some of the recipes with Dijon. I can't live without it!
If You Make Dijon Vinaigrette
if you make this easy dressing, pease drop me a comment and let me know how you like ti and what you did with it. I love hearing from you and your comments help other readers as well.
📖 Recipe
Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette
Equipment
- Jar with a tight fitting lid
Ingredients
- ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar or other vinegar of choice
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped shallot optional
- 1 small garlic clove finely zested
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Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake very well until creamy and emulsified.
Notes
Nutrition
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Porsche guy says
This is really easy and tastes great. I like learning to make my own dressing.