Champagne Vinaigrette
Time after time, I whip up my go-to salad dressing, Quick and Best Balsamic Vinaigrette, since it pairs nicely with a simple green salad with sliced cucumber. But after frequent repetition, like anything, I tire of it. So, venturing out, I embarked on a mission to procure a classic champagne vinaigrette recipe for my wheelhouse. However, before landing on my ultimate recipe, I cycled through many iterations, experimenting with some citrus notes like lime juice and golden lemon thyme. But the citrus combined with the vinegar made the dressing unpalatable, highly acidic. So, opting for a classic recipe, I discarded the citrus elements and carefully weighed the balance of honey to mustard to vinegar. What resulted was a staple vinaigrette that is particularly appetizing on a hot summer evening but can be enjoyed any time of year. Also, this dressing is highly versatile and can be used on a plethora of salads since it lingers nicely on your palate.
Ingredients
- 1 T. minced shallots
- 1 t. minced garlic cloves
- 2 T. champagne vinegar
- 6 T. high-quality olive oil
- 2 ½ t. coarse ground Dijon mustard, I find mine at Safeway
- 4 t. honey
- 1 t. fresh Italian parsley
- ½ t. sea salt
- 10 cranks fresh ground pepper, about ¼ t.
Directions
- Step 1 First, mince the shallots and garlic, placing both in a mason jar or whatever jar you use for dressings.
- Step 2 Next, measure and pour the vinegar and oil into a separate mixing bowl. After this, dish out the honey and mustard into the same mixing bowl. Mix well to incorporate the honey, especially if it’s crystallized. Then, chop the parsley and add it to the bowl, stirring well. Season with salt and pepper. Last, pour the contents of this mixing bowl into the mason jar and shake well.
- Step 3 Note: if you’re refrigerating the dressing before serving, take it out 15-20 minutes beforehand to re-emulsify the oil and shake well. Enjoy!
Along with balsamic vinaigrette, it’s nice to have a champagne vinaigrette in my wheelhouse. This classic recipe balances well the core elements of vinegar to honey to mustard. What results is a mild vinaigrette that is versatile with a lot of salads and lingers nicely on your palate.
I love this recipe! It lifts up any salad I make !
Thank you so much! I find this champagne vinaigrette to be a very versatile dressing!