Those beautiful greens from your garden need a dressing that is just as special but simple. I don’t like to overwhelm the flavor of the greens. The following recipe is a favorite; it can be easily modified to go with the ingredients in your salad. See the suggestions at the end.
3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar (unflavored)
1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar
1/2 of a shallot, chopped fine
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Kosher salt to taste, a good pinch
1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil
Mix the vinegars, mustard, salt and shallot together in a small jar. Shake well and let sit it for 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator, this will soften the shallot. Add the olive oil and shake again to emulsify. The vinaigrette will keep for a week in the refrigerator. My favorite way to use the dressing is to put a few tablespoons in the bottom of your bowl, then add the greens on top. Mix it gently with 2 large spoons or your clean hands making sure to coat all the leaves. Don’t overdress the salad!
- If you have fruit in the salad (halved grapes, apple, berries), use raspberry vinegar in place of the red wine vinegar. Toss in some candied nuts at the end.
- If you are having wine with it, use lemon juice in place of the vinegar.
The secret is the mildness of the rice wine vinegar.
I have never tried mixing vinegars in this vinaigrette but I sure will now!
Let me know what you think. I find most commercial red wine vinegars too harsh for my taste. The mildness of the rice wine mellows them. I read recently about a restaurant in NY where they add a bit of red wine to the vinegar to do the same thing. I haven’t tried it but remember a place in Berkeley (many years ago) that told me they did the same.
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