Make this authentic French vinaigrette recipe to complement fresh salad flavors

An authentic French vinaigrette dressing consists of just a few simple ingredients, such as a good quality olive oil, sherry, Champagne, or white wine vinegar; minced shallots, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper.

The perfect ratio in a true French dressing is 1 part vinegar to 2 parts oil, with a teaspoon of mustard per ¼ part vinegar. This breakdown gives this dressing the right balance of acid to oil, making sure one does not overpower the other and brightening the fresh flavors of a classic nicoise salad.

French vinaigrette dressing

1 tablespoon shallots, chopped

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

½ cup champagne vinegar

1 cup olive oil

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until well blended.
2. Transfer the dressing to a container with a tight-fitting lid. Chill until you are ready to serve. This dressing may be made several days in advance and will last in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

This article was originally published in the April 2025 issue of 225 Magazine.