Olive Oil to Vinegar Ratio

It is said that the art of a good dish is not only in the quality of the ingredients but in the details of its preparation. Therefore, both a professional in culinary art and an experienced homemaker can turn simple and familiar ingredients into exquisite dishes. Knowing details as simple as the olive oil to vinegar ratio can make the difference from something good to something surprisingly delicious.

Many also call this skill seasoning. But is seasoning something that is inherited or acquired? While culture, family, and environment greatly influence someone's personal touch when cooking, learning or improving culinary techniques through observation, trial and error, or study are essential.

One basic preparation that can take our kitchen to the next level is a vinaigrette. This blog will discuss how to prepare it with extra virgin olive oil for cooking .

Why make a vinaigrette?

Frequently, the supermarket offers you all kinds of products that save you preparation time and are ready for direct consumption, such as salad dressings and vinaigrettes. The processed food system can offer you varied options, but it may not be the best option if you are interested in a healthier lifestyle. Although they can get you out of a hurry, preservatives often limit the nutritional benefit. Already-made products may seem super practical, but are they worth it?

In addition, there are not always significant economic savings. For example, did you know that a commercial salad dressing can cost you three dollars while doing it yourself only costs a few cents? The recently published book Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking has highlighted a key idea for simplifying recipes and time in the kitchen. In a few words, the better you know basic techniques and which ingredients are suitable to each other you can simplify your approach to your recipes.

Whether you are a professional cook, a housewife, or a lover of good food, you can balance cost, quality, and good taste, considering some concepts and primary products. One of these elements that should never be missing in your kitchen is EVOO. In addition to providing incredible flavor notes, high polyphenol olive oil can significantly benefit your health.

How to make a vinaigrette: essential elements

Vinaigrette is an emulsified sauce that is made with oil or other fats. It is a cold sauce containing fatty and acidic cutting elements. The fatty part can preferably be extra virgin olive oil, although it can also be replaced by fats such as cream, mayonnaise, or yogurt. At the same time, the acidic element can be some kind of vinegar or lemon.

The sauce can be made by shaking vigorously with a fork, in a container with a lid, or with a mixer or mortar, depending on the ingredients used and the desired result. Something important is that the olive oil to vinegar ratio is balanced with salt or other additional components.

The vinaigrettes can be used for main dressing dishes, salads, or marinating meats. And although their most common use is cold, they can also be served hot or warm in some cases. Vinaigrettes can be classified as follows:

● Basic vinaigrettes

The classic formula consists of mixing some type of oil and vinegar.

● Derived vinaigrettes

These are a mixture of vinegar and olive oil with additional aromatic elements or ingredients that may include infused EVOOs like olive oil and lemons or basil olive oil.

● Compound vinaigrettes

This is a preparation of vinegar, the remaining juices from cooking seafood or steak with a binding element such as oil or egg yolk.

What is the ratio of olive oil to vinegar?

Many professionals in the culinary world suggest that a standard ratio for a vinaigrette is 3-to-1. That is 3 servings of extra virgin olive oil to 1 serving of vinegar. Of course, the olive oil to vinegar ratio can be adjusted to personal taste or intention in the dish. For example, if you want a vinaigrette with greater intensity, you can opt for a 2-to-2 ratio: two parts of oil for two parts of vinegar.

Considering this basic ratio, you can get many incredible combinations by replacing some elements or adding other extras. Often the most used type of oil is extra virgin olive oil for cooking since its flavor is considered more neutral and adaptable. On the other hand, using different kinds of vinegar, such as white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or even sherry vinegar, can give it an interesting flavor twist.

But if you want to go a step further, remember that you could also mix vinaigrettes with a wide variety of ingredients, such as the following:

● Dairy: cottage cheese, yogurt, or cheese (such as blue cheese)

● Herbs: coriander, fennel, curry, basil, mint, peppermint, oregano, among others

● Finely chopped purees or elements: peppers, beets, raspberry, or others

● Nuts: olive and fig, walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios, almonds, soy, etc.

● Acidic fruits: lemon, orange, or lime

3 fantastic recipes of vinaigrettes

FRENCH VINAIGRETTE

● 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

● 1 tablespoon of vinegar

● 1 pinch of salt

● 1/4 tablespoon of pepper

● 1/4 tablespoon of mustard

● 1/4 tablespoon of honey

NORWAY VINAIGRETTE

● 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

● 1 tablespoon of aged balsamic vinegar

● 1 pinch of salt

● 1/4 tablespoon of pepper

● 1/4 teaspoon of fine herbs such as basil, thyme, or marjoram

ITALIAN VINAIGRETTE

● 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil or garlic olive oil

● 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar

● 1 teaspoon of lemon juice

● 1 pinch of salt

● 1/4 tablespoon of pepper

● 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

● 1/4 teaspoon basil

● 1/4 teaspoon of thyme

● 1 chopped garlic clove

Choose the best quality products for your vinaigrettes

Are you ready to try new combinations of vinaigrettes? If you want to enjoy the best flavors and obtain many health benefits, do not forget that in addition to balancing the olive oil to vinegar ratio, it is essential to choose products of the best quality. We invite you to get to know the wide variety of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars that We Olive has for you and other gourmet products. Visit our online olive oil store, email us at info@weolive.com or call 805 238 2900 and let us know what you are looking for.