Ina Garten Says Vinaigrette Is One Thing You Should Always Know How to Make

While it’s always useful to master the art of pasta and know how to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies from scratch, there’s one thing, according to Ina Garten, that you must know how to prepare in the kitchen: vinaigrette. 

To the uninitiated, making your own vinaigrette might sound intimidating or like a waste of time, but Ina is here to prove you wrong. “It’s faster to make it than to go to the store and buy a bottle of dressing. And it’s so much better,” Garten explained on PBS News Hour.

All you need for a great vinaigrette is oil, vinegar, and seasoning. You’d use one part vinegar to three or four parts oil, and then you can choose from a variety of seasonings for taste, like herbs, zest, spice, and more.

In the above video on Instagram, Ina actually walks you through her favorite vinaigrette recipe, which is just four ingredients: lemon (instead of vinegar), olive oil, salt, and pepper. She makes the vinaigrette in a measuring cup so she doesn’t have to dirty a bunch of dishes.

Get the recipe: Make Vinaigrette Like a Pro! from Ina Garten

And remember: While you can stick with vinegar and oil, it’s also easy to add an emulsifying agent to thicken the vinaigrette and make it more creamy for certain salads that taste better with a richer texture. For instance, Ina loves including Dijon mustard and raw egg yolk to the mix when she wants a creamy vinaigrette option. 

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your own salads, Kitchn has you covered. Try a citrus vinaigrette for some zest, a Greek vinaigrette over tomatoes, feta, and cucumbers, or a brown butter vinaigrette for a more indulgent, creamy texture and flavor. 

What’s your favorite vinaigrette recipe? Let us know in the comments!