John Myers
If you want to make a salad dressing yourself in the form of a vinaigrette, 4 parts vinegar and 6 parts oil form the basis. First, the vinegar – “vinaigre” in French – is mixed with a little salt and pepper. Use homemade vinegar for this, for example. The oil would not absorb the two spices. An emulsifier is needed so that the oil and vinegar can later mix together. Mustard is particularly well suited for this: It not only gives the salad dressing a slight spiciness but also dissolves in both vinegar and oil – and it combines both liquids.
Mix a dollop of mustard with the vinegar and then add the oil. Whisk the ingredients together with a fork or whisk to make a vinaigrette. A pinch of sugar rounds off the homemade salad dressing. You can vary the vinaigrette to your liking by trying different types of vinegar, oil, and mustard. Finely chopped shallots and fresh herbs also go well.
