Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Name: Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar; juice from 1 lemon, about 3 tablespoons; ½ cup virgin olive oil; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

The Garden & Saucier

Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

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The Strategy:

A flawlessly balanced vinaigrette is the quiet foundation of an elegant kitchen. By combining the gentle sweetness of white balsamic with the sharp, bright acid of fresh lemon, this essential dressing elevates simple greens without overpowering them.

Makes: about 1 cup | Total Time: 10 minutes till it’s ready

Ingredients

1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar
juice from 1 lemon, about 3 tablespoons
½ cup virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

Overhead prep shot of white balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon, virgin olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, Dijon mustard, and fresh dill

Instructions

Pour the vinegar into a small bowl or measuring cup. Whisk in the lemon juice.
Slowly pour in the olive oil while you continue to whisk.
Season with salt and pepper.
The dressing should be well blended with no separation between the oil and the vinegar.

Thing to Note:

Use this basic recipe to create any kind of vinaigrette. Just a teaspoon of Dijon-style mustard whisked into the vinegar and lemon, and a clipping of fresh dill tossed in before serving will create a yummy finish to your salad.

Extreme close-up action shot whisking olive oil into white balsamic vinegar and lemon juice to create an emulsion

The full recipe lives in the Vault

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The Heart of the Table

Mastering a from-scratch emulsion is the clearest marker of a sophisticated home cook. Relying on the pure, unadulterated flavors of high-quality virgin olive oil and the pristine acidity of fresh lemon creates a clean, luxurious dressing that store-bought alternatives simply cannot replicate.

An elegant, formal dinner table setting featuring a crisp green salad glistening with Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette, with a dinner party in the background

Neighborly Grace

THE PRESENTATION: Do not serve this dressing already heavily tossed into the salad. Present the perfectly emulsified vinaigrette at the table in an elegant glass cruet, allowing guests to witness the beautiful suspension of the oil and vinegar before dressing their own plates.
THE POUR: A crisp, high-acid white wine, such as a Sancerre or an un-oaked Chablis. The wine needs enough structure to stand up to the sharp lemon and balsamic notes without clashing.
THE VIBE: Understated and refined. This is the perfect introduction to a multi-course estate dinner, signaling to your guests that every detail of the meal has been thoughtfully, freshly prepared.

Chef’s Recommendations

Drizzled Over the Grill Marks: Sunday Best Grilled Vegetables
Marked by White Balsamic: Warm Brussels Sprout Caesar Salad
The Main Course Turn: Duck Confit
A Shallot Vinaigrette Kinship: Chilled Green Bean and Arugula Salad with Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette and Chopped Egg

The Estate Table

Build tonight’s menu around this dish.

✦ Set the Table

Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

Lemon Balsamic Vinaigrette

The full recipe lives in the Vault

The Heart of the Table

Neighborly Grace

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