4 easy homemade dressing recipes

This mustard dressing is a timeless favourite. In this version, the black Kampot pepper grape must vinegar combined with Kampot Pepper Mustard creates a warm, aromatic profile. The flavour is bold yet elegant. It works well with everyday salads, raw vegetables or a quick lunch dish.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon mustard

• 2 tablespoons Kampot pepper grape must vinegar

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• A pinch of salt

• A few turns of fresh black pepper

Preparation

• Place the mustard in a bowl and smooth it with a spoon

• Add the vinegar and whisk until you get a first light emulsion

• Pour in the oil slowly while whisking to build a smooth and slightly thick texture

• Season with salt and pepper. Adjust the balance: add more vinegar for extra lift or more oil for a rounder flavour

Chef tips

Whisk strongly as soon as you add the vinegar. This first emulsion helps stabilise the dressing.
Add one teaspoon of cold water at the end if you want a creamier finish.
Use a touch of honey or smoked salt for a deeper flavour.

Pairing ideas

This recette de vinaigrette maison works well with:

a crisp green salad, ripe tomatoes with red onions, crunchy raw vegetables, hard-boiled eggs or warm lentils.

This fresh dressing plays on acidity and lightness. The young ginger grape must vinegar, aged slowly in oak barrels, brings soft citrus and floral notes that blend well with lemon. The result is bright and clean, perfect for light meals.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons young ginger grape must vinegar

• Juice of half a lemon

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 small clove of grated garlic (optional)

• Salt and pepper

Preparation

• Mix the vinegar and lemon juice in a bowl

• Add the grated garlic for a stronger, expressive taste

• Pour in the oil in a thin stream while mixing to keep the texture fluid

• Season with salt and pepper, then adjust acidity or sweetness as you like

Chef tips

Replace one tablespoon of oil with cold water for an extra-light version.
Add a little lemon zest for a bright aroma.
Serve this dressing immediately to enjoy the fresh ginger flavour.

Pairing ideas

This recipe pairs beautifully with green or white asparagus, cucumber salad, steamed white fish, finely sliced white cabbage or grilled prawns.

This dressing uses red long pepper grape must vinegar, which has a naturally syrupy texture and deep toasted notes similar to a light balsamic. Its warm and woody profile suits a sweet and soft dressing, ideal for a generous salad or a pasta salad.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons red long pepper grape must vinegar

• 5 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon honey

• A pinch of salt

• A few turns of black pepper

Preparation

• Mix the vinegar and honey in a bowl

• Whisk until the honey dissolves fully

• Add the oil slowly while whisking to get a shiny, smooth dressing

• Add salt and pepper and adjust to taste

Chef tips

For a pasta salad, add one tablespoon of orange juice for a fruity layer.
For a green salad, add a small spoon of mustard for more structure.
If the vinegar feels too aromatic, use a neutral oil to balance the taste.

Pairing ideas

This dressing is excellent with pasta salads with grilled vegetables, green salads with walnuts, burrata, heirloom tomatoes or beet carpaccio.

This recipe is perfect for steamed vegetables such as leeks or artichokes. The red bird’s eye chili grape must vinegar brings gentle heat without overwhelming the dish. It adds energy and warmth to tender vegetables.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons red bird’s eye chili grape must vinegar

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 teaspoon mild or strong mustard

• A pinch of salt

• One turn of black pepper

Preparation

• Mix the mustard and vinegar in a bowl

• Whisk to create a smooth and slightly thick base

• Add the oil slowly to make a well-bound dressing

• Season with salt and pepper, then adjust the intensity: more vinegar for brightness, more oil for softness

Chef tips

Add one teaspoon of leek cooking water for a silky texture.
For artichokes, a touch of lemon zest brings a light contrast.
Serve this dressing warm for a fuller coating effect.

Pairing ideas

Perfect with steamed leeks, whole artichokes, warm potatoes, roasted carrots or warm green beans.

Making a homemade dressing recipe is simple, but it transforms a meal. With artisanal grape must vinegars, every dressing becomes more expressive, balanced and natural. THEO’s slow fermentation, oak ageing and additive-free process reveal subtle notes that elevate these everyday dressings into real gourmet preparations.

These four recipes help you explore freshness, sweetness, acidity and heat. They adapt to all seasons and suit a wide range of dishes. Try them, adjust them and make them your own.