4-Ingredient Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

Looking for the perfect easy vinaigrette to add tons of flavor to your salad, side dish, or grain bowl? This 4-Ingredient Maple Dijon Vinaigrette is the perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tang to bring an explosion of flavor to each bite!

Plus, with only four simple ingredients, it’s incredibly quick and easy to whip up. As a busy mom who loves bold flavor, I am so grateful to have a simple and fast vinaigrette recipe on hand that instantly upgrades and elevates any salad with a homemade touch.

In this recipe, you will learn about different types of Dijon mustard, how to make an emulsion, and how to serve this homemade vinaigrette.

This is my very favorite vinaigrette to serve with this Arugula Pear Salad.

Maple Mustard Vinaigrette Ingredient Highlights

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Oil and vinegar are the base of any great vinaigrette! You can also use lemon juice in place of vinegar if you prefer.

I love maple syrup here for the distinct sweet and vanilla-y flavor that balances the vinegar beautifully. This recipe also works with honey in place of syrup.

You can use smooth or grainy Dijon mustard. Grainy Dijon mustard (as pictured) has little mustard seeds that add taste and extra texture. Smooth Dijon mustard (like Grey Poupon) is, as it’s name implies, free from any seeds and has a smooth, creamy texture.

I’ve made this homemade vinaigrette with both smooth and grainy Dijon mustard and both turn out delicious. It just comes down to your preference!

Small-Batch Maple Dijon Vinaigrette Tips and Tricks

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How to Make Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

Oil and vinegar are notoriously hard to combine, but, when they do, they make for an almost creamy texture. This is because when fat and water combine, they create an emulsion.

There are a number of ways to emulsify your vinaigrette. You can vigorously whisk it, blend it, or my favorite technique—shake it up!

I like to add my oil, vinegar, maple syrup, and mustard to a glass jar, seal it, and shake until it combines. This also means that if the vinaigrette begins to separate before you have a chance to serve it, you can easily give it another quick shake.

Serving Small-Batch Maple Dijon Vinaigrette

This robust vinaigrette is truly versatile, delicious on a variety of salads, sandwiches, and grain bowls. It’s also delicious on roasted vegetables. Because it is both savory and sweet, it adds complex flavors to any meal.

Here are some of my favorite salads to serve this Maple Dijon Vinaigrette with:

• Spinach Arugula Salad
• Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
• Quinoa Arugula Salad

Always Dress Salad Right Before Serving

When serving with salad, I highly recommend serving this Maple Dijon Vinaigrette on the side and allowing everyone to dress their own individual salad. First of all, some people may like more dressing than others.

Secondly, and arguably even more important, the longer the salad sits with the vinaigrette on it, the more likely it is to get soggy.

And last, leftover salad without the dressing will last much longer in the fridge than any salad that is already dressed.

If you do wish to dress a whole salad, you will likely use the whole batch. This is a smaller batch recipe that is designed to dress a large salad (or 4-6 portions).

How I Store Homemade Vinaigrette

Leftover Maple Dijon Vinaigrette will last in a sealed airtight container for up to 3 months in the refrigerator. I like to store it in the same glass jar I mix it up in.

Unfortunately, as with any other emulsified condiments, this vinaigrette does not freeze well. It’s best to keep it in the fridge and use it up within 3 months.