Bright lemon and fruity olive oil pairs perfectly with fresh garlic and dijon mustard to make this simple homemade salad dressing.
As I’ve mentioned before, a green salad dressed with a simple homemade vinaigrette has been on our dinner table my entire life. Why buy bottled dressing when you can combine basic pantry staples to create a flavorful vinaigrette in minutes? Not only will you save money but you can control the ingredients. Besides, who wants to spend money on corn syrup and other fillers? That’s no fun. ;)
This Lemon Garlic Dijon Vinaigrette is made with just a handful of common household ingredients: mustard, garlic, lemon, olive oil, salt and pepper. If you’re used to bottled dressing, you will be blown away at how flavorful a salad becomes when tossed with fresh, vibrant flavors. Homemade salad dressings are also an ideal when dealing with common food allergies such as gluten, dairy or nuts.
Want a little sweetness? Add honey. Not a fan of garlic? Skip it. Have fresh thyme around? Throw it in. Get creative and make it your own!
Want more delicious salad recipes? Here are a few of my favorites.
Avocado Green Goddess Dressing (pictured above)
Middle Eastern Salad with Lemon, Mint and Garlic (Syrian Salad)
Italian Mixed Salad with Homemade Roasted Red Peppers and Pine Nuts
Now sit back and relax while your family devours giant bowls of salad.
Your fork is waiting.
Lemon Garlic Dijon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard whole grain or traditional
- 1 clove garlic grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together dijon, grated garlic, salt and pepper.
- Pour in lemon juice and continue whisking to combine. Gradually add olive oil and whisk until emulsified.
- To check for seasoning, dip a piece of lettuce in the dressing and add salt or pepper if needed.
- When you're ready to serve, drizzle over salad and toss lightly until greens are evenly coated.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Billy
February 20, 2018 at 2:33 pmLove the way this looks – nothing beats a nice Dijon Vinaigrette! Thank you for sharing, I’ve never tried it with added garlic. So excited to make this at home!
Liz DellaCroce
February 23, 2018 at 10:18 amSo glad!! Enjoy!
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats
March 12, 2013 at 11:14 pmLOVE a good dressing! Im always looking for new ones to spice up my salads! THanks!
Liz DellaCroce
March 13, 2013 at 8:45 amThis one is a keeper – I hope you enjoy!!
Mary D
March 11, 2013 at 2:27 pmthis looks yummy! I will try it.
Liz DellaCroce
March 11, 2013 at 2:54 pmI could make it for us Wednesday!
brandi
March 8, 2013 at 9:08 amdijon dressings are my favorite! i use it in almost every dressing i make at home :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 8, 2013 at 9:12 amI love it too – I don’t know why I don’t use it more often!!!
Rachael {Simply Fresh Cooking}
March 7, 2013 at 3:27 pmLove this recipe! Pretty photo, too. Bottled dressing is so yuck. I’ve gotten so used to mostly everything I eat being so fresh that I just couldn’t imagine drizzling that unhealthy mess on anything. ;)
addie | culicurious
March 7, 2013 at 3:20 pmLooks delicious, Liz :) I always make my own dressing as well. Store-bought schmore-bought =P
[email protected]
March 7, 2013 at 2:39 pmSounds delicious! Can’t wait to make a big ol’ batch of this!
Liz DellaCroce
March 7, 2013 at 2:54 pmThank you so much! Let me know what you think!
[email protected]
March 7, 2013 at 10:56 amLiz,
I love homemade dressings! I usually save a screw top jelly jar out of the recycling so I can just shake everything up inside.
Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
March 7, 2013 at 2:57 pmI did the exact same thing! Too funny!
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
March 7, 2013 at 8:56 amWe always had a simple green salad at every dinner when I was growing up. My brothers and I would save it for last because we always loved these simple salads with homemade dressing and wanted to savor it. I know, weird, right? Kids that love salad. I think if you take the time to make a quality dressing it makes a world of difference. Garlic and dijon, yum! I want a kick of horseradish in here too!
Vanessa @FrenchFoodieMom
March 7, 2013 at 12:04 amLiz,
Growing up in France, we always finished our meal with a green salad and whipping up the dressing was my job. A little mustard, a little lemon, salt, pepper, oil… voila! Love your beautiful picture. It made me crave salad – and that’s a tough thing to make me do. Gorgeous!
Shari|Tickled Red
March 6, 2013 at 11:27 pmam with you darlin’ life is too short not make your own dressing. Can’t wait to try this one, it sounds nummy :D
Sheila
March 6, 2013 at 4:34 pmI love making homemade salad dressing. Yours looks delish!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 4:37 pmI bet yours are incredible!!!
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots
March 6, 2013 at 4:26 pmLooks delicious Liz! I’m always getting stuck in a salad rut and this looks like just the homemade dressing to get me out of it! :D
Julia
March 6, 2013 at 4:22 pmHomemade dressings are the best. Once you make them you realize how much more flavor they have. Not to mention they are so much healthier since you can control what goes in. This dressing looks wonderful!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 4:37 pmI know!! I always take for granted the fact that I grew up eating homemade dressing. So so good!
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
March 6, 2013 at 2:39 pmI absolutely need this dressing in my life – holy jeez!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 4:38 pmYes you do sista!!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
March 6, 2013 at 1:49 pmDid someone say Garlic? I’m all over it! Pinning!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 4:37 pmI sure did!! Garlic and I are bff’s!
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
March 6, 2013 at 1:31 pmThis dressing looks so so so so so flavorful.
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 1:34 pmIt totally is!
Anne @The Cooking Campaign
March 6, 2013 at 1:09 pmI’m always on the look out for new salad dressings, thanks for posting this!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 1:12 pmMy pleasure – enjoy!!
ashley - baker by nature
March 6, 2013 at 11:11 amThis dressing sounds dreamy, Liz! We never-ever-ever buy bottled anymore, and I’m sure to try this recipe soon! xx
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 11:12 amIt is so dreamy!! I hope you like it!!
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Moutain
March 6, 2013 at 9:59 amI love me some Dijon! This vinaigrette is right up my alley. Can’t wait to whip this up!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 11:12 amSo do I!! One of my favorite ingredients!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
March 6, 2013 at 9:55 amCouldn’t agree more Liz – I haven’t bought bottled salad dressing in a really long time. Love the flavors in this one :)
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 11:12 amThank you my dear!
Tieghan
March 6, 2013 at 9:04 amPutting this on my salad today! Looks so good!
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 11:13 amThank you so much!!
lindsay
March 6, 2013 at 8:55 amMmmmm, this dressing looks delish! I love that it’s mostly dijon and lemon juice and not very little oil. I’m definitely trying this sometime this week.
Liz DellaCroce
March 6, 2013 at 11:13 amYes you really don’t need a ton of oil with this one!
patsy
March 6, 2013 at 8:19 amI always find that homemade dressings taste sooooo much better than the prepared ones you find at the store. I also like knowing what’s in it instead of ingredients I can’t pronounce.