Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette

Cook Time:

5 mins

Total Time:

5 mins

Servings:

8

Yield:

about 1/2 cup

Nutrition Profile:

Low-Carb Dairy-Free Low-Sodium Heart-Healthy Vegetarian Gluten-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

If you're looking for a vinaigrette that can also stand in as a dip or marinade, this Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette is it. Sharp, tangy Dijon mustard gets a flavor boost from spicy garlic and fruity white wine vinegar. Antioxidant-rich honey sweetens the pot and along with heart-healthy olive oil, mellows the vinaigrette's tartness (feel free to adjust the amount of honey based on your preferences). Keep reading for expert tips, including all the ways you can use this vinaigrette.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you, too!

If you purchased a whole head of garlic and don't plan to use it all right away, consider freezing it. It may become strong and bitter, but it's often better than jarred. And depending on your recipe, it might not matter. Put a sheet pan with peeled cloves into the freezer and transfer frozen cloves to an airtight bag. They'll be good for 6 to 12 months, but using them sooner is always best. Be sure to label and date the bag.
If your honey has crystallized in the jar, you can revive it. Put the honey jar in a bowl or pot with some heated water, and the honey will liquefy. You can also microwave it very slowly for a few seconds and then repeat until it's liquid.
Vinegar doesn't need to be stored in the refrigerator. Keep it in an airtight container away from light—it should be good for 1 to 3 years after opening. If you have some on the shelf unopened, it's good for 2 to 5 years.

Nutrition Notes

Generally, any type of mustard contains three basic ingredients: mustard seeds, vinegar and spices. Compared to common yellow mustard, Dijon mustard adds wine into the mix and typically has a little sharper, more pungent flavor than yellow mustard. Like other seeds, mustard seeds provide a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, per the USDA. Vinegar adds probiotics—beneficial gut bacteria—and the spices bring additional antioxidants to Dijon mustard.
While the body digests honey like it does any type of sugar, unlike refined sugar cane, honey has a few notable health benefits. For example, honey contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Honey also contains prebiotics, which feed your beneficial gut bacteria so they can thrive.
Garlic is small but mighty in the nutrition world. Garlic is touted for supporting the immune system and reducing cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. It, too, adds antioxidants to this vinaigrette and acts as a prebiotic for your gut bacteria.

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Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, (coarse or smooth)
½ teaspoon honey
⅛ teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, or canola oil

Directions

Whisk garlic, vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store honey mustard vinaigrette?

For food safety reasons, you should store homemade vinaigrette in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. In that cold environment, expect the ingredients to separate and solidify, but once out of the fridge, it will only take about 30 minutes to liquify. Then, give it a good shake or whisk, and it will be ready to pour.
What can I do with honey mustard vinaigrette?

In addition to dressing salads and bitter greens and dipping freshly cut veggies, honey mustard vinaigrette can make a salmon salad shine. You can also use it as a marinade for beef, chicken and pork. You can add it to a stir-fry or drizzle it over slabs of grilled cabbage or lettuce, or over roasted potatoes. Add some to a shaved steak sandwich on baguette, over a grain and veggie bowl or sliced hard-boiled eggs.
What's the difference between Dijon mustard vs. yellow mustard?

Brown or black mustard seeds are used to make a grainy Dijon with a tangy sharpness, whereas powdered yellow mustard seeds are used to create a mild yellow mustard. Dijon may also include white wine, while yellow mustard has an addition of turmeric and vinegar. In most recipes, you can substitute yellow mustard for Dijon, but not for vinaigrettes like this one, which you want the ingredients to incorporate. Yellow mustard can't emulsify as well as Dijon, and that's due to the seeds.

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, Summer 2004

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

84	Calories
9g	Fat
1g	Carbs

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1 tablespoon
Calories 84
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 1g	0%
Total Sugars 0g
Total Fat 9g	12%
Saturated Fat 1g	6%
Vitamin A 0IU	0%
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Sodium 49mg	2%
Calcium 1mg	0%
Magnesium 0mg	0%
Potassium 3mg	0%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Carrie Myers, M.S.

and

Linda Frahm

Sources

EatingWell is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.