- Alex Guarnaschelli shared an easy 3-2-1-1 vinaigrette that uses pantry staples.
- The homemade dressing has zero added sugar and helps control ingredients better than bottled options.
- Whisk the dressing, then toss greens directly in the bowl for a bright, simple side.
January is the month of better habits, so we wouldn’t be surprised if leafy greens and salads have lately entered your lunch rotation more often than usual. If you’re tired of the same bottled dressing or bagged salads, Alex Guarnaschelli just shared a simple homemade vinaigrette that she declares her “easy go-to.”
Homemade salad dressing sounds harder than it is. Most dressings take no more than five minutes to whip up, for the Food Network star’s Instagram recipe, that’s an overstatement. Plus, making your own dressing helps control the ingredients, including added sugar, of which this vinaigrette has zero grams.
Guarnaschelli’s Easy 3-2-1-1 Dressing starts with adding 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar (she also recommends apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar for alternatives), 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard and 1 tablespoon cool water to a bowl. Don’t eyeball this, as the formula is important; the chef even notes that “you got to measure” for this recipe. There’s only one more step: whisk it together and season if needed. Guarnaschelli adds a crack of black pepper while whisking.
“This dressing works every time,” Guarnaschelli shares. She dresses her greens (and by “greens,” we mean radicchio and bibb lettuce) by adding them slowly to the bowl where she whisked the dressing together, incorporating more salad as she evenly coats the leaves before plating.
Simple dressed greens are a bright and easy side to pair with your favorite protein. A vibrant dressing goes a long way, and it can surely help you eat more vegetables in 2026. So give it a try, and you’ll likely never buy another bottled salad dressing again once you make it at home. While you’re at it, save some of our fan-favorite vinaigrettes for later, like Julia Child’s timeless recipe.
