Dijon Vinaigrette Recipe: 7 Ways to Use Dijon Dressing

Dijon dressing or vinaigrette is a gluten-free condiment featuring vinegar, oil, and spicy Dijon mustard. A basic vinaigrette is an emulsion of vinegar suspended in oil; mustard not only contributes flavor but helps to stabilize vinaigrette. You can use Dijon vinaigrette as a dip for raw vegetables or bread, a marinade, a seasoning, or the perfect complement to lettuces and greens.

Dijon mustard is an aggressively flavored condiment made with brown mustard seeds from the spicier end of the scale and white wine. It gets its name from the town of Dijon in France.

Making Dijon vinaigrette at home is straightforward. Here’s how to make it shine:

1. 1. Experiment with additions. Customize this simple condiment with your favorite seasonings (like red pepper flakes and lemon pepper seasoning), herbs (like dill and parsley), sweeteners (like maple syrup and honey), and alliums (like minced shallots).
2. 2. Follow the recipe to a T. To ensure proper emulsification, be sure to whisk the mustard and vinegar together before adding any other ingredients or oils. If you mix everything at once, the dressing may not come together as smoothly.
3. 3. Swap the oil and acid. Once you’ve made a basic vinaigrette, try using different oils and acids for the base. Swap the olive oil for avocado oil, sunflower oil, or vegetable oil for a more neutral flavor. For a citrusy vinaigrette, replace a portion of the vinegar (or all of it) with lime or lemon juice.

Dijon vinaigrette is endlessly customizable, both in method and usage. Read ahead for some options:

1. 1. Add to toasts and sandwiches: Add an extra layer of flavor to your avocado toast or favorite sandwich with a drizzle of lemon vinaigrette. Alternatively, serve the dressing in a bowl alongside toast for dipping.
2. 2. Drizzle over pasta salad: Dress cold pasta salad with a vinaigrette and toss in some chopped veggies, fresh herbs, and cheeses for a filling weekday lunch.
3. 3. Enjoy in grain bowls: Top quinoa, farro, or couscous grain bowls with the protein and toppings of your choice, and finish them with a drizzle of Dijon vinaigrette.
4. 4. Include in marinades: Dijon vinaigrette dressing makes an easy marinade for meat (like chicken or steak) and seafood (like shrimp or salmon).
5. 5. Serve as a dip for raw vegetables: Instead of ranch or yogurt dip, serve a crudités platter with Dijon vinaigrette for a lighter taste.
6. 6. Toss with vegetables before roasting them: Dice sweet potatoes or cut brussels sprouts in half. Toss the vegetables in the vinaigrette, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, roast the vegetables before tossing them in a vinaigrette.
7. 7. Use as a salad dressing: Combine mixed greens—such as spinach, arugula, and kale—and toss them with vinaigrette. Top the green salad with feta, goat cheese, pecans, dried cranberries, and chicken for a main-course salad.