How to make a French Dressing

French dressing is a simple vinegar and oil sauce for mainly salads and as a marinade for a range of fresh foods. It is often known as ‘sauce vinaigrette‘ and is made from  a good wine vinegar, oil, pepper and salt, usually fresh green herbs in season and on occasion mustard.

In southern France, garlic is sometimes added. Never add any sugar to a french dressing – it is sacrilege.

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Serves: 2; Preparation: 15 minutes; Cooking time: 20 minutes. 

Ingredients:

For ¼ pint;

• 2 tbsp good wine vinegar or a mixture of vinegar and lemon juice
• 6 tbsp. of a salad oil such as walnut oil or olive oil
• pinch of sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• ¼ tsp. of dry mustard (optional) or 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Preparation [1]:

1. Beat the vinegar or lemon juice in a bowl with the salt and mustard if desired. keep mixing until the salt has fully dissolved.
2. Beat in the oil drop by drop and then season with pepper.

Preparation [2]:

1. Put all the ingredients in a stoppered bottle and shake like anything until the salt has dissolved. It takes about 30 seconds to get it all mixed. Works a treat!
2. If you are adding some herbs then consider adding between 1 and 2 tablespoons of chopped green herbs such as tarragon, parsley, basil, chives. If none are available then add some quality dried herbs.