Description
How to make an authentic French Vinaigrette: Simple, quick and delicious
Ingredients
Scale
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- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
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- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar, sherry vinegar or champagne vinegar!)
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- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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- 1 small shallot, finely minced (optional but traditional)
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- A pinch of sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
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- In the same pan you cooked the bacon, lower the heat and whisk in the vinegar and mustard, scraping up all the flavorful bits.
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- Add the shallots and let them soften slightly.
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- Pour the warm vinaigrette directly over the frisée and toss immediately so that every leaf glistens.
Notes
Favorite French Salad Recipes
Chèvre Chaud French Warm Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Dressing
Salade Niçoise with Basil Dressing
Salade Lyonnaise Bacon and Soft Poached Egg Salad
Which Vinegars to use for French Salad Dressing
Any that you like! Here are some of my favorites
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- Balsamic Vinegar for a slightly sweeter vinaigrette
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- Red Wine or White Wine Vinegar for a traditional flavor
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- Champagne Vinaigrette when I am feeling a little fancy
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- Shallot Vinaigrette when I can find it (often at French grocery stores)
If you don't have vinegar, fresh lemon juice can work as a substitute - it adds the crisp acidity.
Vinaigrette Variations:
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- Insead of finely minced shallots you can use red onion.
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- Add your favorite Fresh herbs to your vinaigrette. I love to add thyme or lemon thyme. Chives are great with a butter leaf lettuce salad. Basil is key to my Salade Niçoise dressing.
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- Instead of Dijon mustard you can use a whole grain mustard which I really enjoy.
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- Instead of mustard you can use honey (recipe below) for a sweeter dressing that I absolutely love over a goat cheese salad.