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    Home » Recipes » Dressings and Sauces

    Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

    Published: Apr 4, 2024 · Modified: Sep 28, 2024 by Vinny · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    An easy and delicious dressing perfect for sandwiches, wraps, and salads. This Lemon Basil Vinaigrette is a great way to upgrade your meal! It is bright and crisp and the perfect dressing for a summer salad.

    lemon basil vinaigrette

    This dressing goes perfectly with our Mediterranean Chicken Wrap and Cast Iron Chicken Breast!

    Jump to:
    • Making your own Dressings
    • Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
    • Step-by-Step Directions
    • Pro-Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Storing Dressings
    • More Dressings and Sauces
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Reviews

    Making your own Dressings

    Making your own dressing gives you control over what ingredients are in the dressing. Buying Caesar salad from the store is going to be nothing like a Traditional Caesar Dressing. Most dressings include refined oils like canola oil or vegetable oil. This 5-minute recipe will be better and fresher than anything you can buy in the store.

    Learning the ratios of oil to acid can be a great tool to keep in mind. When you don't have all the ingredients for a specific recipe you can still make a halfway decent dressing to upgrade your dish. You can start to make dressings that complement your salad like our Cilantro Mango Vinaigrette with our Grilled Shrimp Salad or Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing with our Easy Chipotle BBQ Chicken Salad!

    Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

    Apple Cider Vinegar. An easy substitute for apple cider vinegar is white vinegar. Although they're slightly different flavors, you'll still enjoy a delicious flavor.

    Parmesan Cheese. Parmesan cheese makes the vinaigrette extra creamy but it is not a necessary ingredient. Leave it out if you can't eat dairy.

    Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It is important in dressing to use a high-quality olive oil. Most of the flavor is in the oil, and a generic olive oil won't do you any favors. The right olive oil can make or break the recipe.

    Step-by-Step Directions

    Step 1: Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, dijon, basil, garlic, and salt in the food process. Process until the basil has a fine texture.

    lemon basil vinaigrette in food processor

    Step 2: Slowly pour the olive oil into the food processor while processing to emulsify the fat. Combine with the rest of the ingredients. Once the oil is completely combined, stir in the parmesan cheese.

    Serve the dressing over salad with some Homemade Italian Parmesan Croutons, or with wraps or sandwiches. It's also a great marinade for chicken! I love to use it on the salad under my Classic Pork Chop Milanese!

    Pro-Tips

    1. Don't add the olive oil all at once. It won't emulsify and you will have an oily dressing. You want to slowly add the oil so you break down the fat into tiny particles that won't separate from the rest of the dressing. 

    Recipe FAQs

    What oil should I avoid using in a vinaigrette?

    Any oil that is refined like canola or vegetable oil. I would only use avocado or extra virgin olive oil in a vinaigrette.

    What does drizzling the olive oil in vs. pouring it in all at once do?

    You can't emulsify the olive oil if you pour it in all at once. Slowly drizzling it in will give you a preferred texture because the oil won't separate from the vinegar for a while.

    Storing Dressings

    Refrigeration: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When ready to use, remove from the refrigerator and let the oil become liquid. Mix thoroughly and serve.

    Freeze: Do not freeze this vinaigrette.

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      Cilantro Mango Vinaigrette

    Please leave a comment and star rating below in the recipe card! I love to hear what you think of our recipes. Feel free to tag us on Instagram @vindelgiudice.

    📖 Recipe

    lemon basil vinaigrette

    Lemon Basil Vinaigrette

    Vincent DelGiudice
    A spring or summer dressing perfect to brighten up a salad or a wrap! Lemon Basil Vinaigrette is simple, delicious, and lemony!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Salad
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 169 kcal

    Equipment

    • 1 food processor

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 2 tbsp lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
    • ¼ cup basil
    • 1 clove garlic
    • 2 tablespoon parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Instructions
     

    • Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, dijon, basil, garlic, and salt in the food process. Process until the basil is a fine texture.
    • Slowly pour the olive oil into the food processor while processing to emulsify the fat. Combine with the rest of the ingredients. Once the oil is completely combined, stir in the parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    1. Don't add the olive oil all at once. It won't emulsify and you will have an oily dressing. You want to slowly add the oil so you break down the fat into tiny particles that won't separate from the rest of the dressing. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 230mgPotassium: 17mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 67IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 0.2mg
    Tried this recipe?We'd love for you to Leave a Review!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vinny

      May 26, 2024 at 1:27 am

      5 stars
      This dressing is perfect for a grilled chicken salad. Keep it in the fridge and use it for salads or marinating!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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    Vinny in the Kitchen.

    Vinny DelGiudice, MS CCC-SLP

    My name is Vinny. I am an Italian-American home cook, a photographer, and previously, a speech pathologist specializing in swallowing and voice disorders. I share the recipes I grew up eating in my home and the recipes that I cook for my family. Always From Scratch is about cooking homemade meals and eating with family.

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