Fresh lemon juice and dijon mustard mixed with the mild oniony, garlic taste of chives. What could be a better combo for this easy light lemon chive salad dressing?
One of the first salad dressings I’ve ever made was a rendition of this lemon chive salad dressing! It may seem silly now, but it shocked me how fresh a homemade salad dressing tasted over store bought. Whenever I would buy salad dressings from the store they would feel so oily. Instead, when I was able to make my own dressing I could control that!
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How To
Making a homemade salad dressing is easy! It took me a while to understand the formula for creating my own dressing. Once I did I could experiment with adding different flavor combinations!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- LEMON - I prefer fresh lemons juiced for this one!
- FRESH CHIVES - Substitute ¼ Cup fresh chives for 2 TBSP dried chives if you cannot find.
- EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL - I buy one high quality EVOO for homemade salad dressings.
- WHOLE GRAIN DIJON MUSTARD - The texture and spice of the dijon mustard is a great pair with lemons and chives.
Formula for Salad Dressing
The formula I like to use to make any olive oil based dressing is:
Salad Dressing = 1 Part Tart (Citrus or Vinegar) + 1 Part Olive Oil + 1-2 TBSP Mustard or Sweetener + Dried or Fresh Herbs (optional)
- TART - The tart ingredient is a necessity for providing balance to the olive oil. I always prefer to use fresh citrus juice instead of vinegar, are great for salad dressings!
- OLIVE OIL - I always recommend using a good quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) for salad dressings. I usually like to have one smaller, higher quality bottle for salad dressings. I never use EVOO for anything else!
- MUSTARD / SWEETENER - In salad dressings I like to use either a spicy mustard or whole grain dijon mustard. They're the best for balancing out the other flavors. If I don’t use mustard, I use a sweetener like honey, agave or maple syrup. It’s a needed element of every salad dressing as it thickens the dressing.
- HERBS - Depending on the salad dressing, herbs elevate the flavors of a dressing. It can take a plain salad dressing to the next level! Use fresh chives or dried chives for this salad.
Fresh Lemons vs. Lemon Juice
I definitely suggest using fresh lemons. It adds much more fresh acidity to the lemon and chive salad dressing. With such few ingredients, why not make each one shine?!
Cutting Chives
The easiest way to cut chives is using scissors! I like to cut the chives over the mason jar I use for the dressing, but it can be messy! You can always use dried chives if you don’t feel like cutting fresh chives!
What do chives taste like?
Chive taste like its closest food relatives: garlic and onion. Even though chives resemble green onions, they are an herb, not a vegetable. Compared to green onions, chives are milder and softer in texture.
Tips
- SHAKE. Make sure to use a mason jar (or something similar) to mix the ingredients. The best way to thicken the dressing will be to shake the ingredients well together.
- SALT. Salting your salad dressing is a important step. Don’t skip it!
How to store homemade salad dressings
Store homemade salads are in airtight containers like mason jars in the fridge. Depending on how cold your fridge is, the oil may harden, but that’s okay. Take your salad dressing out of the fridge a little before you need it so that it comes to room temperature.
What to Use lemon Chive Salad Dressing On
Kale Fennel and Dried Fig Salad - A simple crunchy salad of kale, shaved fennel and dried figs is the perfect match for this salad dressing. The strong and tangy flavors of the citrus and dijon mustard can stand up to the hearty kale. Shaved fennel adds a light crunch topped with dried figs to create a sweet, tangy and flavorful salad.
Other easy ways to use this salad dressing include:
- Salads with any type of greens (kale, romaine, spinach, arugula)
- To top seafood like salmon or shrimp
- As a dressing for poultry
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📖 Recipe
Lemon Chive Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup Lemon Juice 1 lemon
- ¼ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 TBSP Whole Grain Dijon Mustard
- ¼ Cup Fresh Chives finely chopped
- 1 TSP Salt
Instructions
- Add all ingredients into a mason jar or salad dressing container.
- Shake for 15-seconds or until ingredients combine.
- Enjoy!
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