You don't need fancy ingredients in order to make the most delicious simple French vinaigrette salad dressing. Although French food often involves a lot of preparations, this French staple dressing is used extensively across Europe. Many variations can be achieved, but this is the basic dressing recipe. This recipe comes directly from a mother in the Southwest of France.

Simple French Vinaigrette

Fresh ground pepper

One clove of garlic (pressed is better so you get the juice)

a pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

Mix together with a fork

add 3 tablespoons oil

Beat together again

There you go, you have the basic salad dressing. From that principle you can elaborate. There is no end to it.

There are 4 parts to the dressing: seasoning, thickener, acid, and oil. No matter what you use, you must choose at least one of each and prepare in the same order. Mix the seasonings together with the thickener. Add the vinegar to break it down and mix together. At the end, beat in the oil until thoroughly mixed and dressing thickens.

For alternative seasonings you can use curry powder, chili peppers, herbs de Province, fresh dill, mint, or thyme, seasoned salts, Old Bay, etc. You can mix and match to suit the needs of your salad. The sky is the limit.

For thickeners try mayonnaise. Yogurt can be added as well. The mustard helps achieve a creamy thick consistency. Use less mustard or none at all when you use other ingredients to thicken your dressing. Another thickener to try is miso paste. If you want a spicy dressing add some harissa sauce. The list is endless.

The vinegar is used just to add acidity. In place of the vinegar try lemon juice, lime juice, orange juice, or just a wide variety of other vinegars. Any citrus fruit can be juiced and the juice can be added.

You don’t need special ingredients to make a simple French vinaigrette as long as you respect the rules and the ingredients regarding composing the salad. So whatever you put in your dressing mustard or not, garlic or not, salt or not, mix in with vinegar then add oil and mix again.

Good luck et bon appetite!