The Best Lemon Juice and Fresh Garlic Vinaigrette Recipe

Our family adores this simple lemon juice and fresh garlic vinaigrette and it’s one of our favorite recipes. It uses just a few ingredients including fresh garlic, fresh lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil, which are easy to keep on hand or pick up at your local grocery store; making this a great last-minute dressing you can whip up at a moment’s notice. We love pouring this dressing on fresh salad greens, using it as a dip for steamed artichokes, and using it as a sauce on freshly cooked rice for a bright and unexpected flavor.

Is there really a comparison between homemade salad dressings and store-bought dressings? Homemade dressings often include simple ingredients and very few tools to create. You can also customize them to your personal preferences or dietary needs. Plus when you make your own vinaigrette dressing, you can avoid unnecessary preservatives.

The Benefits of Garlic

This homemade lemon garlic dressing includes raw garlic, which makes its flavor strong and potent and gives this lemon salad dressing an extra kick. Garlic (allium sativum) has been used for centuries for flavoring cooking and has many health benefits. According to historians, Summarians grew and cultivated garlic along the banks of the Mediterranean 4,000 years ago, and there is evidence of garlic production and use in China up to 5,000 years ago.

The medicinal benefits of garlic are numerous and include supporting the immune system during cold and flu season. Garlic contains organic sulfides, saponins, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides which contribute to their long-time use of illness support and preventative care. Before the invention of antibiotics, garlic was commonly used because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

The Benefits of Lemon Juice

What makes this homemade vinaigrette so tasty is the inclusion of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Our family is often gifted Meyer lemons from family trees and although we prefer the tartness of that variety, any kind of lemon will work for this recipe. Lemons are another common fruit that has been used in dressings and sauces throughout time. Their unique tart flavor is a sweeter and brighter contrast to vinegar. Lemons contain a high amount of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and citric acid. The citric acid in lemons has been thought to aid in digestion. Lemon juice is also helpful to consume when sick with a cold or flu as the acid in the lemons aids in relieving sore throats and keeping the stomach settled.

Tools For Making the lemon juice and fresh garlic vinaigrette

(Some of the items listed below are affiliate links. I make a small commission off of items purchased from my links with no additional cost to you).

You need just a few kitchen tools to make this simple dressing in a flash. You will most likely have the tools on hand already or you can find easy alternatives.

Knife

Cutting board

Citrus juicer

Glass container, jar, or half-pint Mason jar with a tight-fitting lid

Garlic press

Optional tools: food processor or electric juicer.

Ingredients to make the lemon juice and fresh garlic homemade salad dressing

The juice from one whole lemon

1-2 fresh garlic cloves, peeled and crushed (start with one clove and increase the quantity based on the amount of dressing you’re making or the desired potency).

1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon of sea salt

1 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper

1 teaspoon of ground dried garlic

Optional: add finely cut fresh herbs such as thyme, oregano, basil, chives, or green onions.

How To Make the lemon juice and fresh garlic vinaigrette:

1. Slice the lemon in half and juice each half directly into the glass jar.
2. Peel and crush the 1-2 cloves of garlic, and add the garlic to the lemon juice in the jar.
3. Pour the olive oil over the lemon juice and garlic.
4. Next, add the salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
5. Place the lid onto the jar and tighten it to secure it in place. Shake the jar back and forth until all of the ingredients are well combined.
6. Remove the lid from the jar and sample the dressing. Add more salt or any of the ingredients until the flavors are well-blended. The garlic and lemon juice should be the star of the show but work harmoniously together.
7. Store the dressing in an airtight container at room temperature for up to seven days.
8. To serve the dressing, either pour it directly onto a salad or pour the contents into a small bowl with a spoon so it can be drizzled over a salad, baked chicken, rice, or even pasta salad!

Alternative Ingredients

If you do not have one of the listed ingredients on hand, there are a variety of substations that can be made. In place of extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil is a perfect substitution. Lemon juice can be replaced with lime juice for a slightly different taste. If you do not have citrus available, use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar. You can infuse the dressing oil ahead of time with fresh or dried herbs or fresh garlic for an even richer flavor. For a slight twist on the flavor, add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of dijon mustard to make the dressing thicker, and use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or chicken wings.

The Many Ways to Enjoy Your New Favorite Perfect Dressing:

Dress up your next simple salad with this tasty lemon and fresh garlic salad dressing, or douse a pasta salad, steamed broccoli, or rice with the dressing for a bright and springy flavor. The scent and taste of lemons will add that burst of sunshine needed as we bid the winter months goodbye, and welcome the spring season.