Easy and Flavorful Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette Recipe
This Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette recipe is my go-to salad dressing in the Spring and Summer!
With fresh, zesty flavor, this lemon vinaigrette is perfect for elevating any salad or dish in minutes.
You’ll find this dressing (or a version of it) is used widely in my recipes including my simple green salad, this tortellini pasta salad and this Italian Chopped Summer Pasta Salad. It’s one of my favorite salad dressings by far!
Lemon shallot vinaigrette dressing
This lemon shallot vinaigrette is a salad dressing you will make on repeat. It’s packed with bright flavors that will add a dose of freshness to any salad! And, while delicious on salads, you can also use it as a sauce on chicken, fish or vegetables. It’s made with just 7 simple ingredients, most of which you already have in your fridge and pantry.
Why you’ll love this lemon vinaigrette recipe
- Versatile: This lemon vinaigrette is the perfect salad dressing BUT you can also use it on cooked vegetables, chicken or salmon!
- Easy: Make this vinaigrette in just 5 minutes.
- Simple: All 7 of the dressing ingredients are easy to find in your pantry and fridge.
Ingredients needed
Extra-virgin olive oil: Use your favorite high-quality extra-virgin olive oil, the base for a vinaigrette
Lemon: You will need 1/4 cup of fresh lemon juice and lemon zest (both from about 1 large lemon)
Shallot: One small shallot adds a lovely, bright flavor when paired with the lemon juice.
Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard is commonly used in dressing to balance flavors and help emulsify the dressing when whisked or shaken
Honey: Use 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup) helps to balance the tartness of the lemon in this dressing.
Seasonings: You only need kosher salt and ground pepper for this recipe.
How to make lemon vinaigrette salad dressing
In a small bowl add all of the vinaigrette ingredients and whisk until well combined.
Taste and adjust seasonings if desired (salt and pepper).
Use immediately or store in a glass jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake or whisk before using.
Salads to use this lemon vinaigrette dressing with
Arugula salad: Arugula, parmesan and toasted almonds
Butter leaf salad: Butter lettuce, thinly sliced radishes or avocado and chives
Kale salad: Finely chopped kale, pumpkin seeds and summer fruit (like peaches or strawberries)
How long does lemon vinaigrette last in the fridge?
Make this lemon vinaigrette with shallots up and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1 week. If you are using this lemon salad dressing directly from the fridge, let the dressing come to room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before shaking / whisking since olive oil can harden in the fridge.
What can I add to a lemon vinaigrette dressing to make it less tart?
While this dressing can be tart, I like to add 1 teaspoon of honey or maple syrup to the vinaigrette to balance out the tartness from the lemon juice.
Tips and tricks
- If you prefer a smoother dressing, you can use an immersion blender or high-speed blender to blend the dressing. This would create a creamier dressing.
- When measuring the lemon juice, if you don’t have quite 1/4 cup, fill the rest of the way with red wine vinegar to get to the 1/4 cup.
- Make a batch of this dressing and store in the fridge in a glass jar with a lid for the week ahead! Then you can easily make salads or use this as a sauce to drizzle on proteins or vegetables at dinner.
Variations to try
Fresh herbs
To brighten up this dressing, use 1-2 tablespoons of fresh herbs like dill or basil.
Garlic
If you don’t have a shallot on hand, use 2 small garlic cloves, pressed and add to the lemon vinaigrette.
Dried oregano
Add 1/2 – 1 tsp dried oregano to this lemon vinaigrette dressing to pump up the flavor. I like to do this when I’m using this dressing as a finishing ‘sauce’ for grilled chicken, salmon or grilled vegetables.
Chili flakes
Add a pinch or 1/4 tsp of chili flakes or red pepper flakes to this vinaigrette dressing for a hint of spice.
FAQs
The best substitutes for mustard in salad dressing are mayonnaise, tahini, or Greek yogurt since they help emulsify (blend) the oil and vinegar in the dressing.
A lemon vinaigrette dressing typically includes olive oil, lemon juice, dijon mustard, lemon zest, kosher salt and ground pepper. Plus we love to add a diced shallot for flavor.
Arugula salads, butter lettuce salads and pasta salads like this one are some examples of salads that use a lemon vinaigrette dressing.
More salads to love from the blog
- Blueberry Basil Summer Green Salad with Goat Cheese
- Easy Green Summer Chopped Salad (with meal prep tips)
- Kale and Peach Salad with Feta & Toasted Pepitas
Easy and Flavorful Lemon Shallot Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced (1/4 cup lemon juice)
- 3/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp ground pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl add all of the vinaigrette ingredients and whisk until well combined.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if desired (salt and pepper).
- Use immediately or store in a glass jar with a lid in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake or whisk before using.
