2 Mustard Salad Dressing Recipes: Honey Mustard & Lemon Vinaigrette

I love making my own dressing. It’s been years since I’ve actually bought a dressing at all!

When you give this easy mustard salad dressing a try, you’ll ditch the store bought stuff too.

This is:

• a super easy recipe
• a versatile recipe
• a healthy dressing without it trying to be

Jump ahead to the recipe to get started. I’m going to hang out up here and go through a few recipe notes.

Mustard Salad Dressing Recipe Ingredients

• Mustard: This is the key ingredient in mustard salad dressing, and there are many types of mustard to choose from. Dijon mustard is a popular choice, but you can also use yellow mustard, brown mustard, or a combination of different mustards. I use dried mustard powder more often than Dijon, but both are absolutely delicious (and a little spicy).
• Oil: Olive oil makes the dressing creamy and delicious. It is used to thin out the dressing and help emulsify the ingredients. Some common oils used in salad dressings include olive oil, avocado oil, and vegetable oil. You can use any oil that you have on hand, but keep in mind that different oils have different flavors and textures, which will affect the final dressing.
• Vinegar: Vinegar adds tang and acidity to the dressing. You can use any type of vinegar that you like, such as apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or rice vinegar. Substituting a different type of vinegar will change the flavor of the dressing, so choose one that you think will complement the other ingredients. (I usually go for apple cider vinegar)
• Garlic: Minced garlic adds a lot of flavor and depth to the dressing. If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use garlic powder or granulated garlic as a substitute. I often use garlic powder to skip the mess of minced garlic.
• Herbs and spices: You can add herbs and spices to your mustard salad dressing to customize the flavor. Some good options include parsley, chives, dill, basil, and cumin. If you don’t have a particular herb or spice on hand, you can usually substitute a similar herb or spice without significantly changing the flavor of the dressing. (I LOVE the Green Goddess herb mix from Trader Joe’s!)

How to Use Mustard Dressing

Mustard dressing is a very versatile condiment because it can be used in a lot of different ways, from sandwiches and salads to dips and marinades. I like mustard dressing because it has a bold, tangy flavor that adds a lot of character to a dish. It adds that “punch” that a lot of vegan dishes often need.

It’s also easy to make at home and can be customized to suit your taste by adding different ingredients such as herbs, spices, and sweeteners.

Here are my favorite ways to enjoy this tasty dressing:

• As a marinade for grilled vegetables: Mix together mustard, oil, vinegar, and your choice of herbs and spices to create a flavorful marinade for grilling vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant.
• As a dressing for potato salad: Combine mustard with mayo (vegan or otherwise), diced red onion, and chopped herbs to create a tangy dressing for potato salad.
• As a dipping sauce for roasted potatoes: Whisk together mustard, oil, and your choice of herbs and spices to create a dipping sauce for roasted potatoes.
• As a sandwich spread: Use mustard as a spread for vegan sandwiches, such as a grilled tofu or tempeh sandwich.
• As a dressing for a green salad: Mix together mustard, oil, vinegar, and your choice of herbs and spices to create a dressing for a simple green salad.
• As a condiment for burgers: Spread mustard on vegan burgers for added flavor and tang.

How to make homemade mustard salad dressing

Combine the vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Make sure to use Dijon mustard, which is a type of mustard that is smooth and slightly tangy. If you don’t have Dijon mustard, you can use another type of mustard, but keep in mind that it may affect the flavor of the dressing. (I often just use mustard powder!)

The honey, garlic, salt, and pepper will add additional flavor to the dressing.

Once you have combined the other ingredients, it’s time to add the oil. To do this, you will need to slowly pour the oil into the bowl, whisking constantly. It’s important to add the oil slowly to allow the dressing to emulsify, which means that the oil will blend evenly with the other ingredients and create a creamy consistency.

As you add the oil, continue to whisk the mixture until the dressing becomes smooth and emulsified. This may take a few minutes, and you may need to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl to ensure that all of the ingredients are well combined.

Once the dressing is emulsified, it should have a thick, creamy consistency and be ready to use. 😋

PRO TIP: Since I’m a nomad, I make a lot of easy recipes by hand. But if you want to make this even easier, then you could use an immersion blender or even a handheld electric whisk.

Honey mustard dressing vs lemon mustard vinaigrette

Honey mustard dressing and lemon mustard vinaigrette are two types of salad dressings that are made with mustard as the main ingredient. However, there are some key differences between these two dressings:

• Ingredients: Honey mustard dressing typically contains mustard, honey, oil, and vinegar, as well as other ingredients such as garlic, herbs, and spices. Lemon mustard vinaigrette, on the other hand, is typically made with mustard, oil, and vinegar, and fresh lemon juice.
• Flavor: Honey mustard dressing is sweet and tangy, with a strong mustard flavor balanced by the sweetness of the honey. Mustard vinaigrette has a bold, tangy flavor, with a strong lemon, vinegar and mustard taste.
• Uses: Honey mustard dressing is often used as a dip or a condiment for sandwiches, while mustard vinaigrette is more commonly used as a dressing for salads.

Overall, the main difference between honey mustard dressing and lemon mustard vinaigrette is the balance of flavors and the intended use. I like the honey mustard for dipping sauces and for pretty much everything. The lemon juice and mustard vinaigrette is mostly for salads.

You do you!