Easy Herb Vinaigrette Recipe

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If you’ve been wanting to make your own herb vinaigrette but felt like you needed too many special ingredients or it was too much trouble, check out this quick and simple recipe made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

More people are discovering every day how many things they buy from the store are not only full of questionable ingredients, but are waaaay more expensive than easy homemade versions.

From simple homemade yogurt or herb-infused vinegar to DIY foaming handsoap and homemade bath salts, these very simple projects take no special skills or equipment, work brilliantly, and can save you quite a lot of money. Plus they allow you to skip all the sketchy ingredients you often find in store-bought options.

Here are a bunch of other money-saving green habits worth exploring.

If you’ve never made your own vinaigrette, your taste buds are in for a treat. Compared to bottled dressing, homemade herb vinaigrettes are so fresh and clean, you’ll never go back to store-bought.

Why to Make Your Own Herb Vinaigrette

• No questionable ingredients
• No added sugar
• Costs way less
• Tastes way better

No brainer, right? Plus this herb vinaigrette takes just minutes to make. Like most other easy DIYs on this site, this recipe requires no skill or expertise. Combine the ingredients, give it a shake, and voilà, you have your homemade vinaigrette!

What’s in an Herb Vinaigrette?

Let’s talk a bit about ingredients. If you go searching for herb vinaigrette recipes, you will mostly likely find a list of ingredients you don’t already have in your kitchen. Yes, I know shallots are a classic component of “French” vinagrettes, but really, who keeps shallots on hand? I get these occasionally from my CSA and have to hurry to use them because they spoil so much faster than regular onions.

Alternatively, other recipes call for garlic, which is delicious and great for you, but also could pose a risk of botulism if you leave your homemade vinaigrette in the fridge too long. Plus, um…garlic breath?

So for something you can keep in the fridge safely long enough to actually use it up on salads, this simple recipe has you covered.

You need just a few everyday ingredients to make this outstanding homemade herb vinaigrette:

Oil: Olive oil is a go-to, but you can also make it with avocado oil, or whichever oil you favor.

Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or even plain white vinegar can all work. Try different options and see what you prefer. I like apple cider vinegar for the added probiotic benefits, but wine vinegars also work beautifully.

Salt: I like real salt, but you can use whichever salt you have on hand.

Pepper: Black pepper not only adds zing, it contains antioxidants and has other beneficial properties.

Dried herbs: You can use whatever herbs appeal to you, whether that’s oregano, thyme, rosemary, or tarragon. I favor the “Italian herb blend” I get in the bulk section of my local co-op, which combines oregano, thyme, basil, rosemary, marjoram, sage, and spearmint. I like how herb blends save the fuss of measuring multiple herbs and streamlines this recipe.

An herb blend is nice because you get the complexity of flavor without adding to the complexity of the recipe. Other blends I’ve used include herbs de provence and za’atar. You can find additional options to explore here.

Green living tip: No matter which herbs you choose, re-using containers and buying from the bulk aisle has many advantages. You get to skip the footprint of making and shipping a glass bottle, not to mention the expense. Herbs can be 50% cheaper (or more) bought this way, plus you can buy only as much as you need, so you waste less and get the freshest herbs.

I refilled my herb bottle for $1.79, which will provide ample herbs not only for many vinaigrettes, but also tons of ratatouille and our favorite soups. When I’m buying just a little of something for a recipe, I can purchase a teaspoon for mere pennies if that’s all I want.

You can also use a homemade herbal vinegar, which adds herbal flavor without the herbal bits. The herb vinegar I made this summer with bee balm and thyme was outstanding on .

About the ratio of oil to vinegar: Traditionally, you’ll see an amount of oil many times that of vinegar, but I find that too oily, and prefer more acidity. I like the 1:1 ratio much better, plus the higher acidity should theoretically prolong how long your vinaigrette lasts. You can add more oil to your vinaigrette if you prefer a different balance.

How to Make Herb Vinaigrette

This herb vinaigrette couldn’t be easier! You’re just putting all the ingredients together in a jar and giving it a good shake. If you’re feeling extra enthusiastic, you can run them through a blender, but it’s not necessary. Your vinaigrette will be delicious either way.

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Quick & Easy Herb Vinaigrette

Yield: 2/3 cups

Prep Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 1 minute

This easy herb vinaigrette is made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen and takes just a minute to come together. You'll never go back to store-bought once you've tried making homemade vinaigrette.

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Ingredients

• 1/3 cup olive oil or other oil of choice
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar or other vinegar
• 1 tablespoon dried herbs of choice or 3 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh herbs
• 1/4 teaspoon real salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a jar or bottle with a lid.
2. Seal lid and shake well.
3. Store in the refrigerator for up to a week

Notes

I like to use an Italian herb blend or herbes de provence, but any dried herbs you have can work. If using fresh herbs, try basil, thyme, tarragon, chives, oregano, or lemon balm.

Ingredients will separate in the refrigerator, so shake well before each use.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 11 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 71Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 51mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g

How to Use Homemade Herb Vinaigrette

Whether as a flavorful dressing for beautiful greens from your garden or CSA or delicious addition to a grain bowl, your herb vinaigrette has plenty of tasty uses. Try it on:

• Green salads
• Wild rice salad
• Roast veggies
• Fish or chicken

Just plan to use it up within a week, especially if you’ve used fresh herbs.

Love easy DIYs? Check out these other simple homemade ideas:

• DIY Potpourri
• Homemade Lavender Sachets
• DIY Pine Bath Salts
• Homemade Sugar Scrub

Save this herb vinaigrette recipe for later!

Susannah

Susannah is a health and environmental writer focusing on gardening, foraging, medicinal plants, and sustainability. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and was a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Find out more and grab your copy here.