Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe

This homemade Lemon Vinaigrette in the best salad dressing recipe. Made with just 6 simple ingredients, it has a perfect balance of tangy and sweet.

I stopped buying store-bought salad dressing a while ago for a few reasons.

First, the quality of the ingredients. You will never see a high-quality extra-virgin olive oil or freshly squeezed lemon juice on the jar label. Also, as a sweetener, I use maple syrup instead of refined sugar. So, preparing this at home will make your salad so much healthier.

Second, homemade vinaigrette tastes so much better. You always can play around with the flavors and add any ingredients you want.

I love using this lemon vinaigrette with my favorite salads, like Roasted Beet Salad, Farro Salad, or Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad.

Why this recipe works

This Lemon Vinaigrette is similar to my Citrus Vinaigrette, but more lemony and has more “bite” to it.

It has a good balance of sharpness from vinegar and mustard, freshness from lemon juice and zest, and sweetness from maple syrup. And of course, you have to use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil to get the best results.

How to make Lemon Vinaigrette

The recipe could not be easier. You just need to combine all the ingredients in a bowl or a mason jar and give it a stir.

Tips for best results

Olive Oil. Make sure you use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil. Some cheaper oils might have some bitterness and have a bad aftertaste.

Lemon. Always use fresh lemons for juice and zest. They will provide a lighter and more vibrant flavor.

Taste test. Always taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. You might want to adjust some flavors, like add more lemon juice or olive oil, or give it a bit more sweetness.

Garlic. I like to add a little bit of freshly minced garlic to my dressing for more aroma. Though, you can easily skip this ingredient or use a finely minced shallot instead.

How to store?

You can refrigerate the dressing for up to a week.

Did you make this recipe?!? I’d love to know how it turned out! leave a comment and a rating below👇 thank you!