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Lemon Dijon Dressing

Published: Jan 30, 2025 by Alejandra

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This Lemon Dijon Dressing is a simple, light citrus dressing recipe that is perfect for any spring or summer salad recipes. Ready to go in 5 minutes!

Overhead view of a spoon of lemon dijon dressing.

If you are looking for similar light vinaigrette dressings, try this Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette, this Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette or this Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Jump to:
  • Recipe Highlights
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • Step By Step Instructions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • 📖 Recipe

Recipe Highlights

  • Tangy — This lemony dressing has a decent amount of tang to it, which is perfect if you love lemons! However, it’s easy to make it a bit sweeter if you prefer.
  • 5 minutes — It takes less than 5 minutes to make this lemon vinaigrette. Just add everything to a mason jar, shake it well and it’s ready to serve.
  • Light, but flavorful — This lemony dijon vinaigrette is not overly powerful. It is a light, but flavorful dressing that won’t overpower your salad.

Ingredients & Substitutions

The ingredients needed to make the lemon dijon dressing.
  • Lemon: You’ll need both fresh lemon juice and lemon zest for this dressing. You can use bottled lemon juice and skip the lemon zest, but freshly squeezed lemon juice will taste so much better.
  • Dijon: Use your favorite type of Dijon mustard. Dijon is not the same as regular mustard and they are not interchangeable in this recipe.
  • White Wine Vinegar: A bit of white wine vinegar makes this dressing a true vinaigrette. You can use apple cider vinegar instead, or replace it with more lemon juice.
  • Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil or another type of oil, such as sunflower oil or avocado oil.
  • Garlic: You’ll need about one clove of freshly minced garlic.
  • Rosemary & Thyme: A dash of dried rosemary and thyme add a little bit of herb flavor that complements the lemon well. You can use fresh herbs instead if they are in season. You can also substitute the rosemary and thyme with another type of herb if you prefer, such as oregano.
  • Maple Syrup: Maple syrup balances out some of the tartness of the dressing. Make sure to use real maple syrup, not artificial pancake syrup. Honey is a great option for a substitute.

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, dijon, white wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme and maple syrup to a mason jar.

Pouring the olive oil into a mason jar.

Step 2: Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until the ingredients are well emulsified. Pour over your salad immediately.

Mixing the salad dressing ingredients together in a mason jar.

Serving Suggestions

This Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette works well on many different types of salad recipes, including simple green salads, pasta salads or even quinoa salad bowls.

Here are some salad recipes that you can use this Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette with:

  • Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
  • Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad
  • Strawberry & Almond Spinach Salad
  • Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad

Expert Tips

  • Make it sweeter. This lemon vinaigrette is tangy. If you want a sweeter dressing, add in more maple syrup to taste.
  • Store in the fridge. Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 to 7 days.
  • Shake well before serving. This dressing will separate after sitting for a while. Always shake well right before pouring it over your salad.

Recipe FAQs

Does this vinaigrette taste like Dijon?

No. The Dijon mustard is very subtle in this dressing. It adds flavor without making the vinaigrette taste like mustard. If you want to make a similar dressing without Dijon, try this Lemon Oregano Vinaigrette instead.

Can I use regular mustard instead of Dijon mustard?

No. Dijon mustard is not the same as regular mustard and won’t work as a substitute.

Pouring the lemon dijon vinaigrette over a quinoa salad.
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📖 Recipe

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Overhead view of a spoon of lemon dijon dressing.

Lemon Dijon Dressing


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  • Author: Alejandra
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: ½ cup dressing 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

This Lemon Dijon Dressing is a simple, light citrus dressing recipe that is perfect for any spring or summer salad recipes. Ready to go in 5 minutes!


Ingredients

Scale
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 2 tsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp lemon zest
  • ¼ tsp thyme, dried
  • ¼ tsp rosemary, dried
  • salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, garlic, lemon zest, thyme and rosemary to a mason jar. 
  2. Shake vigorously for 15 seconds until well emulsified. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Shake well again before pouring over your salad.

Notes

  • Storage: Store the dressing in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 to 7 days. Always shake well before using. 
  • Serving Suggestions: Use this dressing on green salads, pasta salads and quinoa salads. Try it with this Mediterranean Quinoa Salad or this Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad.
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Salad Dressing Recipes
  • Method: Mixed
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tbsp
  • Calories: 111
  • Sugar: 1.8g
  • Sodium: 23mg
  • Fat: 11.2g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.6g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9.7g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 3g
  • Fiber: 0.1g
  • Protein: 0.1g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg

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Hi, I’m Alejandra!

I am the recipe creator & food photographer behind Let Us Munch Lettuce. I create salad & salad dressing recipes that will make you actually want to eat salad every day. 

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