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Home » Meal » Condiments

Published: Dec 9, 2022 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

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Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
Homemade dressing in a spoon is shown with the words Lemon Herb Vinaigrette and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

Lemon Herb Vinaigrette is a versatile dressing that combines lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dijon, and fresh herbs. You can use tarragon, dill, or basil, for a light, fresh salad dressing or herbs like rosemary and thyme for a bold dressing for meats and potatoes!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
A spoonful of lemon herb vinaigrette is shown in the foreground over a green salad.

Why You'll Love This Dish

It's quick. All you need to do is add your olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh herbs to a glass jar, shake to emulsify, and you're ready to serve.

It's super easy. If you don't have a glass jar, just add all of your ingredients to a bowl and combine with a whisk or a fork.

This dressing is endlessly versatile. Try on everything from a side salad, to a grain bowl, to roast chicken. You'll be surprised at how many uses you'll find for this vinaigrette!

You can customize this recipe with different herbs. In the summer, try a fresh basil vinaigrette over a salad with grilled chicken. In the winter, use rosemary in the dressing for a delicious topping for potatoes!

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Dish
  • What You'll Need
  • How to Make Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
  • FAQ
  • Variations
  • How to Store
  • How to Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • More Recipes You'll Love
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments
The labeled ingredients for lemon herb vinaigrette are shown on a white marble counter.

What You'll Need

  • Lemons Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is lovely here, but feel free to use bottled lemon juice if you can't find fresh lemons.
  • Olive Oil A good quality olive oil would be very nice here because there are so few ingredients.
  • Garlic Fresh garlic is always my preference, but feel free to use jarred garlic as well.
  • Fresh Herbs I recommend about two tablespoons of fresh tarragon, basil, dill, mint, or parsley, or about a half teaspoon of fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, marjoram, or dried herbs like Italian seasoning or Herbs de Provence.
  • Dijon Mustard Feel free to omit this if you aren't a mustard fan.
  • Salt Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt is my brand of choice. It coats food evenly and is less salty than traditional table salt by volume, making it much easier to taste as you go!
  • Pepper Fresh cracked pepper is delicious here.

How to Make Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

Step One In a small glass jar with a lid, or in a bowl, add the olive oil, vinegar, chopped herbs, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.

The ingredients for lemon herb vinaigrette are shown in a glass jar.

Step Two Finely mince the garlic or grate using a Microplane and add to the mixture.

Two plates of side salad are shown dressing in a lemon herb vinaigrette.

Step Three If using a jar, shake to emulsify. If you are using a bowl, whisk until the ingredients are fully combined. Taste for seasoning and serve!

An emulsified lemon vinaigrette is shown in a glass jar.

FAQ

What is lemon herb vinaigrette made of?

A vinaigrette is an emulsified mixture of oil and an acid, like citrus juice or vinegar. Lemon herb vinaigrette uses lemon juice for the citrus component and adds fresh flavor through the addition of herbs.

What are the three components of a vinaigrette?

Fat, acid, and seasoning. This is commonly olive oil or a neutral oil like canola or grapeseed oil.

What is the ratio of fat to acid in a vinaigrette?

There are a few options here. A classic rule of thumb is 3 parts fat to 1 part acid. This is a good place to start. I also love a more punchy 2 to 1 or even 1 to 1 ratio for a very bold, flavorful vinaigrette.

Should lemon vinaigrette be refrigerated?

Yes. Any leftover dressing will need to be refrigerated.

Is vinaigrette served hot or cold?

Both! This vinaigrette is delicious on a cold salad, but it's equally good served over hot potatoes, or on a warm salad or grain bowl.

Variations

Different Fresh Herbs Instead of tarragon, try basil, mint, dill, parsley, or cilantro. You can also use a smaller quantity of chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, marjoram, or oregano.

Shallot In place of the garlic, try some finely chopped shallot

Sweeter Dressing For a sweeter dressing, add a bit of honey.

Other Acid In place of lemon juice, try a different citrus juice, like lime juice, or any number of vinegars, such as balsamic, rice wine, white wine, red wine, or champagne vinegar.

How to Store

Fridge Store this vinaigrette in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake again before using.

If the olive oil has coagulated (become solid), the vinaigrette is still totally safe to consume. Just let the dressing come to room temperature and shake, whisk, or stir to combine.

Freezer I do not recommend freezing this vinaigrette.

Two plates of side salad are shown dressing in a lemon herb vinaigrette.

How to Serve

This Lemon Herb Vinaigrette can be used in countless ways. Try these:

Salad A simple side salad is a great option here. Have it with soup like this Chicken Pastina Soup, a sandwich like this Grinder Sandwich, or a surf and turf dinner like this pork chop and shrimp recipe.

Grain Bowls Add to a grain bowl like this Mediterranean Grain Bowl or this Warm Grain Bowl with Goat Cheese and Greens.

Warm Salad Try this dressing on a warm spinach salad.

Roasted Vegetables This is delicious over roasted vegetables like this Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli or these Roasted Cherry Tomatoes on the Vine.

Roasted Meats A simple roast chicken would be delicious accompanied by this vinaigrette.

Potatoes Use this dressing over cooked potatoes, like these Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes or these Crispy Smashed Air Fryer Potatoes.

Tomatoes This would be wonderful over a cold tomato salad or over warm roasted tomatoes, like these Air Fryer Tomatoes.

Expert Tips

  • Mix very well. You'll want the vinaigrette to be fully incorporated, so I like to...
  • Use a glass jar. This is a trick I love to use when making a vinaigrette. It's easy to emulsify the dressing by sealing the lid tightly and shaking. It will stay stable for longer this way, too.
  • Is your dressing tasting bland? Whenever you encounter this problem, salt and acid are your friends! Try adding a bit more lemon juice, a tiny pinch of salt, and taste again for seasoning.

More Recipes You'll Love

Looking for more recipes that boost the flavor of your food? Try the suggestions below!

Pineapple Habanero Sauce

Tomato Mascarpone Sauce

Chipotle Southwest Sauce

Caramelized Mushrooms and Onions

Spicy Pickled Onions

📖 Recipe

A spoonful of lemon herb vinaigrette is shown in the foreground over a green salad.

Lemon Herb Vinaigrette

A bright, fresh vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, fresh herbs, garlic, and dijon. Try it on salads, roasted vegetables, crispy potatoes, grain bowls, and more!
5 from 23 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Condiment, Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Dressing, Easy Recipe, Fresh Herb Vinaigrette, Lemon Vinaigrette, Quick, Salad Dressing
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 8 2-tablespoon servings
Calories: 162kcal
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Equipment

  • Glass Jar
  • Kitchen Knife

Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup olive oil extra virgin
  • ⅓ cup lemon juice
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs like tarragon, basil, parsley, mint, or dill
  • 1 clove garlic small, minced or grated
  • ½ tablespoon dijon mustard or to taste
  • kosher salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Instructions

For Glass Jar

  • Add all ingredients to a glass jar with a lid and shake well to emulsify. Taste for seasoning and serve.

For Bowl

  • Add all ingredients to a bowl and whisk well with a fork or whisk. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Notes

Storage
  1. Fridge Store this vinaigrette in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. Shake again before using.
  2. If the olive oil has coagulated (become solid), the vinaigrette is still safe to consume. Let the dressing come to room temperature and shake, whisk, or stir to combine.
  3. Freezer I do not recommend freezing this vinaigrette.
Variations
  1. If using fresh tarragon, basil, dill, mint, or parsley, use 1 to 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh herbs. 
  2. If using fresh rosemary, thyme, oregano, or marjoram, or using dried herbs like an Italian seasoning blend or Herbs de Provence, use ½ to 1 teaspoon instead.
  3. You can use lime juice or different types of vinegar in place of lemon juice.
  4. Try a tablespoon or two of finely chopped shallot in place of garlic for a sweeter vinaigrette.
  5. If the vinaigrette is a bit too sharp, try adding a tiny bit of honey.
  6. You can omit the mustard if you do not like it.

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Sodium: 11mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Traci says

    December 14, 2022 at 4:20 am

    5 stars
    I love the beautiful color of this recipe and how it turned out. I also love the wonderful taste! It’s a very versatile recipe!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 15, 2022 at 1:22 pm

      Thanks Traci!

      Reply
  2. Kris says

    December 14, 2022 at 9:41 am

    5 stars
    Perfectly tangy and flavorful. I used it on a warm quinoa salad and it was a hit!

    Reply
  3. Lisa says

    December 14, 2022 at 10:53 am

    5 stars
    I needed a quick dressing for a luncheon and this one fit the bill perfectly. My guests and I really enjoyed the flavor.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 15, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      Wonderful! Thank you, Lisa.

      Reply
  4. Shelby says

    December 14, 2022 at 11:40 am

    5 stars
    This is such a healthy alternative to store-bought! I love adding dill into ours because it gives whatever I'm using it on such a potently fresh flavor.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 15, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      Yes! Absolutely love this in place of store-bought dressing. Thanks so much, Shelby!

      Reply
  5. Sonia says

    December 15, 2022 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    It is so easy to make, and the dressing is very flavorful and versatile. I used it over some boiled potatoes and the result was a refreshing potato salad! It have become one of my go-to recipes.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      December 15, 2022 at 1:23 pm

      Glad to hear it! Thank you, Sonia.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

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