The Best Lemon Vinaigrette
by Katie Webster
March 30, 2022 (updated 5/9/22) Jump To Recipe
Our simple and delicious Lemon Juice Vinaigrette is an easy homemade salad dressing that pairs perfectly with a wide variety of salad combinations. It has just the right balance of acidity from the freshly squeezed lemon juice balanced with a little salt and a touch of honey (or agave to keep this vegan.) It is a tart and refreshing addition to your favorite salad.
I published this Lemon Juice Salad Dressing on January 1st, 2016. I have updated the text and photos today to share it with you again. The recipe remains unchanged.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Fresh Lemon Juice Vinaigrette Recipe
I’m going to say it right now: If you think you don’t have time to make salad dressing from scratch, think again! Today’s simple homemade vinaigrette recipe could not be any easier! Just put some ingredients in the blender. Whirl them up. Taste. Adjust if necessary. You’re done. Lemon vinaigrette. Viola!
You know how much we love making homemade salad dressings around here. I have shared dozens and dozens over the years. Some of our favorites include this Tarragon Vinaigrette and our Healthier Blue Cheese Dressing made with Greek yogurt. We have shared both unusual combinations like this Thai Peanut Dressing or this Japanese Carrot Ginger Dressing to classics like this Light Creamy Italian and this Balsamic Walnut Vinaigrette. But this lemon juice dressing is hands down one of our all-time best.
We always keep fresh lemons on hand and I regularly use them in place of vinegar to make homemade salad dressing. I love the clean, bright, and tart taste especially because it is relatively neutral so it goes with a wide variety of cuisines. Lemon pairs with Middle Eastern recipes, Mediterranean food as well as classic American recipes too.
So ditch that bottled dressing and say hello to your next favorite salad dressing combination.
Ingredients For This Recipe
Fresh Lemon Juice
I started with fresh lemon juice. Using fresh squeezed makes all the difference! I use a citrus reamer, but really you can just use a fork to help get all of the juice out of the lemon!
Oil
Because it is so acidic, I used one part lemon juice to two parts oil. Normally I follow a slightly different ratio that I explained when I shared my cider vinegar salad dressing recipe. In this case I stray from my usual formula so that the dressing isn’t too bracingly acidic.
Shallot
I also use shallot in this dressing as per my general instructions for using allium in dressings. See more here in my Lemon tahini dressing recipe!
Dijon
This is an important ingredient in classic vinaigrettes because it has naturally occurring lecithin which is an emulsifier. It helps the lemon juice and oil hold an emulsion. It also adds peppy savory flavor!
Honey or Agave
To balance the strong acidity of the lemon juice I add in a touch of sweetness from either agave (to keep this vegan) or honey. You won’t taste the sweetness, but it really cuts the bracing tart lemon taste.
Salt and Pepper
To complete the flavor profile, one must add salt to balance the sweet and sour. Pepper adds a bit of spice.
How To Make The Best Lemon Vinaigrette
Step 1: Blend Without Oil
I blend it all together with an immersion blender or a mini-prep to make it ultra-creamy and make it hold its emulsion longer.
Start by combining the lemon, shallot, Dijon, agave, salt and pepper in the mini-prep or in the jar of an immersion blender. Or you can whisk the combination by hand.
The goal is to fully combine the Dijon and agave into the lemon juice so that the oil will stay in the emulsion better once it is added.
Step 2: Add Oil and Blend Again
Add the olive oil and avocado oil to the dressing, cover and puree again. If you are whisking by hand you will have to gradually drizzle in the oil so that it forms an emulsion.
Step 3: Enjoy or Store
Once the dressing is smooth and emulsified, transfer it to a jar and refrigerate it for up to one week. If it becomes solid after a few days, let it come to room temperature. Shake well before using.
Expert Tips and FAQs For This Homemade Salad Dressing
A vinaigrette is a type of salad dressing. Vinaigrettes are made with oil and vinegar, or in the case of this dressing, oil and lemon juice. They are typically made with one part lemon juice (or vinegar) to two parts oil. Classic vinaigrettes are made with mustard and shallot as well. Salad dressings include vinaigrettes, but also include creamy dressings.
This dressing keeps in the fridge for one week. The oil will become solid after a few days, so if the dressing is hard when you pull it out of the fridge, let it come up to room temperature. Shake well before using. You can also set the jar of dressing in a bowl of warm water to warm it quickly.
In this lemon dressing, feel free to add one to two tablespoons of fresh chopped dill or tarragon to jazz it up. You can also use chives, chervil or basil. Stronger woody herbs like thyme or oregano are best used in small quantities.
Best Salad Combinations For This Vinaigrette with Lemon
This dressing is a good multi-purpose vinaigrette. It is great at this time of year when greens are on the bitter and robust side.
- The tartness of the dressing pairs well with the bitter greens as they balance each other. I used head lettuce and radicchio today.
- Try it with bitter-sweet and tender Belgian endive with chopped egg and radishes.
- Drizzle it over a blend of dandelion greens and romaine hearts.
- It can be used to dress Shaved Asparagus Salad or for Massaged Kale Salad.
- Simply toss it with some earthy baby spinach and cherry tomatoes.
- I have also poured it over chilled blanched asparagus, like in this recipe for asparagus with tarragon vinaigrette.
- This is great with Greek Cucumber Salad and this Spring Salad with Snap Peas, Feta and Mint.
More Salad Dressing Recipes:
- Kalamata Olive and Basil Vinaigrette, here’s one that will liven up even the simplest salads! Try it on cukes and tomatoes! Amazing.
- Maple Sherry Vinaigrette, one of my favorite dressings ever! Do not miss it!
- Another maple one is this creamy Maple Tahini Salad Dressing. It is so good I would drink it. Seriously!
- Our love of ranch is strong over here. Try our Horseradish Ranch or this Maple Ranch Dressing.
- This Mustard Salad Dressing was inspired by the dressings I had in Germany.
- We have even added fresh whole Cranberries to dressing and made a dressing with tomatoes with smoked paprika.
More Simple Lemon Recipes
- My Lemon Blueberry Bread is To-Die-For! Do not die- just make the bread!
- How about some Healthy Lemon Bars from Monique! Yes, please!!
- How To Make Lemon Curd from my friend Ally! She knows her stuff!
- Just looking at this Lemony Bucatini Carbonara makes me salivate! It is off the hook delish!
- Do not miss my supremely lemony Chicken Piccata or my Hollandaise made with Greek Yogurt- both are top-notch!
- This lemony Tabbouleh Salad is classic and fresh and a favorite in the summer months.
Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter where I share weeknight meal plans delivered right to your inbox. Or follow me on Instagram. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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The Best Lemon Vinaigrette
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Description
This simple lemon juice vinaigrette is so simple and easy but it goes with dozens of salad combinations! Serve it with a Greek salad or over spinach with cherry tomatoes and you can’t go wrong!
Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chopped shallot
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons agave or honey
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup organic canola oil or avocado oil
Instructions
- Blend lemon juice, shallot, Dijon, agave, salt and pepper in a blender or mini-prep.
- Add olive oil and canola oil and blend until smooth.
- Store in a jar in the refrigerator.
Notes
Store it in a jar in your refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Bring up to room temperature before tossing with salad if it solidifies in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad Dressing
- Method: small appliance
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 129
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 231 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
Keywords: lemon juice salad dressing, lemon olive oil dressing, lemon vinaigrette
This Recipe is Part of the Meal Prep Menu:
One more thing! This recipe is part of my Meal Prep Menu which also includes five make ahead dinners! In this plan, I give you the prep list, shopping list and plan to prep on the weekend, so you can have all your weeknight meals ready to go with 20 minutes (or less) of time in the kitchen!
- Monday: Stuffed Shells with Spinach and salad with this Lemon Juice Salad Dressing
- Tuesday: Cod Fish Tacos with refried black beans
- Wednesday: Sloppy Joes and Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower with Cheese
- Thursday: Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Friday: Greek Pizza and lemony green beans
To get the full details, print your shopping list and get started, head over to the Meal Prep Menu to check it out!
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
Would using lemon juice out of the bottle be ok to use if we don’t have any lemons?
Delicious. Served over baby spinach with cherry tomatoes and a drop of red onion. Great flavor and texture.
★★★★★
Thanks for sharing this recipe with all of us. An amazing lemon vinaigrette recipe to try out this summer.
★★★★★
Wow, I just made some of this for tonight’s dinner and I’m really impressed with the flavor. A little sweet, a little lemon…what a delightful balance. Well done!!!!!
★★★★★
Thank you Jan. I am so glad you liked the dressing, and very appreciative that you came back to review and rate. Thank you!