This is a recipe for Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette. The best little jar of vinaigrette that you can shake up. Don’t be intimidated by making your own vinaigrettes. This Sweet Red Wine Vinegar Dressing is beautiful in flavor with the perfect sweet and tangy balance, and so easy to put together.
How to Make Vinaigrette Dressing
The Ranch Hand said these fresh greens using this red wine vinegar dressing was the best salad he’s ever had.
He’s had plenty of salads, so I’m giving all the credit to this sweet red wine vinaigrette. I recently heard someone say they were intimidated to make their own salad dressing. Too many ingredients, it feels complicated, there’s that emulsification thing ….
Yes, I’ve slow drizzled oil into a whirling food processor until my arm ached, to make sure my dressing was blended in that oh-so professional way. But more times than not, a whisk or a mason jar will do. Simplest is always best, because you’ll make it more often. And homemade is always better than a jar from the store.
Does it get any more simple than vinegar, oil and salt and pepper? That’s how easy it can be. Just pour the ingredients togethet with a vigorous beating with a whisk before pouring it onto your salad, or a good strong shake in a mason jar is how I make 99.9% of my vinaigrettes.
This recipe has a couple more ingredients than just oil and vinegar, but hardly enough to be considered complicated. And what’s ever more beautiful about this recipe is the honey from a friend’s back yard. Many Hands Colorado Back Yard Honey.
Growing Lettuce In Containers
We’re finally starting to get some fresh produce here in Colorado, and some of that is even coming from the pots on my back patio. Usually these pots are filled with cascading petunias or bright impatiens, but this year I dedicated half of them to herbs, some of which I’ve never grown before.
I planted one pot to heirloom red leaf lettuce. To my surprise, it’s “growing like a weed.” Even in the hot, dry, windy conditions we’ve had this season.
Lasagna Gardening
I received the heirloom seeds from Azure Standard who believes in healthy, organic, naturally grown foods and they believe in supporting local organic farmers, and giving us the opportunity to provide healthier foods on our tables.
I started the seeds indoors early Spring and that’s where my beautiful lettuce came from, along with my pots of herbs. A book about Lasagna Gardening was included. Its theory just makes sense. Instead of digging in the dirt, build your own layers of “soil” using compost.
I’ve never heard of Lasagna Gardening until now and I find the whole theory incredibly interesting. And I’d love to try it. Doing a little “digging” on the internet, I also found this article from Back Yard Boss about the easy process of Lasagna Gardening.
My first harvest of the lettuce was used in this Italian Salad. Whole Foods had some beautiful yellow heirloom tomatoes, and the rest of the ingredients were things I had on hand…green olives, shaved Parmesan, toasted pine nuts. and some home made Mozzarella cheese that my friend Heather gave me. I tossed it with this Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette sweetened with honey. We thought it was a great salad.
Served with seared scallops that had been seasoned with Old Bay, with my favorite Pappas Brother’s Remoulade Sauce for dipping. which I’ve blogged about before. A simple fresh meal.
Recipe For Sweet Red Wine Vinegar Dressing
With all that said, here’s the recipe for the Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette. A perfect blend of sweet and tangy. Fresh and healthy and waiting for your next salad.
Don't be intimidated by making your own vinaigrettes. This Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette is beautiful in flavor and easy to put together.
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 3 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
Mix ingredients well, either with a whisk in a large bowl, or in a large mason jar fitted with a tight lid. Shake the dickens out of that mason jar. Serve immediately over your favorite greens.
Italian Salad with Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette with Seared Scallops …It’s What’s for Dinner.
Ready to make some more delicious vinaigrettes? You won’t want to miss this one:
Ina Garten Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette Recipe
From the Kitchen of Lea Ann Brown, Cooking On the Ranch
Rocky Mountain Woman says
July 22, 2013 at 10:54 amI love red wine vinegar! I will definitely give this salad a try with those first few precious salad greens from the garden.
I went and looked to see if there is a delivery drop near me, and, of course, there isn’t! The only problem with living in the middle of nowhere is that no one knows you’re here!
Jaime, the German granddaughter says
July 22, 2013 at 3:50 pmLea Ann, Your lettuce looks beautiful! This is my first year growing lettuce and I have three different kinds also growing very fast and healthy to my surprise. Covenant ranch Does deliver to Longmont! I will check them out some more and would love that book. I started gardening this year with four raised beds I bought from the ace hardware. Also to my surprise most everything is growing as it should. I love red wine vinegar! I will be learning to make mozzarella this Thursday in Longmont. Can’t wait. Happy Summer;)
adam @unorthodoxepicure says
July 22, 2013 at 6:46 pmOf all the gardening I’ve ever done (and I owned a nursery for about 6 years), I’ve never grown lettuces. That will change this winter. Yours is beautiful and inspires me even more.
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen says
July 23, 2013 at 5:02 amYour lettuce from your garden is so pretty. We tried growing lettuce once in our herb garden, but planted it too late and it bolted. Think you have better growing conditions.
Sam
Karen Harris says
July 23, 2013 at 6:16 amGorgeous salad Lea Ann. At the beginning of the summer Whole Foods was selling pots of assorted lettuce and I have regretted not getting one ever since. This post makes me regret it even more. The dressing sounds wonderful.
Jenn says
July 23, 2013 at 6:34 amI am a huge fan of red wine vinaigrettes – love how tangy they are. The salad looks lovely… can’t beat homegrown veggies!
Vickie says
July 23, 2013 at 9:24 amI am so excited that you have lettuce in July! My lettuce crop is starting to bolt and rather than mourn, I am going to plant a container on my patio NOW. I’ve always thought it was sad that the lettuce bolts just as the tomatoes are getting ripe. Love this idea! Also, if Bob said this is the best salad he’s ever had, I am making this Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette! And finally – I did go to their website and they don’t come near Montana. :-/ But I’d love to win the giveaway.
Larry says
July 23, 2013 at 4:49 pmI love fresh from the garden leaf lettuce and best salad he ever had is way impressive. A few plants can provide lots of lettuce. I believe I could eat the scallops and remoulade as well.
Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti says
July 24, 2013 at 9:22 pmLeaAnn your salad looks delish! You mustalso have a green thumb! It has been so hot and dry this summer that everything I’ve planted looks worse for the wear. I usually had giant basil plants in NY by this time in summer, but the ones I planted here are puny, despite planting them in Miracle Grow soil and frequent watering. I think it may be the cool night temperature that is stunting them–but maybe that helped your lettuce grow so well?
I will definitely look further into the Covenant Ranch Trucking service! It’s good to know they deliver to CO. Love the give away!
Lea Ann says
July 27, 2013 at 8:07 amGrowing up on a farm, I better have a green thumb! It has been a little hot this season, but I think the wind has taken it’s toll. Good to hear from you Pat. We need to plan lunch.
foody schmoody says
July 26, 2013 at 7:00 amThanks for coming by foodyschmoody. I’m now following you via Google+. I love this salad idea. I, too, am growing that type of lettuce and have been running out of ideas so the timing of this post is perfect!
Lea Ann says
July 27, 2013 at 8:10 amWe really liked that sweet version of the Vinaigrette. And of course the fresh mozzarella and olives made for a great combo.
Susan says
July 26, 2013 at 8:16 amWhat a lovely salad! I’ve failed miserably at trying to grow lettuce here. Perhaps next season I’ll try a large container.
Lea Ann says
July 27, 2013 at 8:11 amI’ve never grown it! So you can imagine I’m pretty proud of that pot of beautiful greens.
rachel says
July 26, 2013 at 9:19 amThey do indeed deliver in my area!
Lea Ann says
July 27, 2013 at 8:13 amGood! Thanks Rachel.
Chris says
August 4, 2013 at 10:06 amThat salad really pulls the meal together. Wait, I sound like The Dude.
Lea Ann says
August 6, 2013 at 7:23 am🙂