Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe with Soft Hard Boiled Eggs
If you know me by now, winter brings out the lemon cravings in me and lemon everything dances in my head. Last winter I made lemon cake and recently lemon budino.
One way to satisfy the desire to pucker up a bit and feel that zing that lemon gives is a good lemon vinaigrette recipe on the right green salad.
Growing up in an Italian household, the green salad was a part of every single dinner. Sometimes it was just oil and red wine vinegar and sometimes it was oil and lemon.
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I do break a few rules however, as I like to add champagne vinegar, which marries very well with lemon. I mix this up with some dijon mustard, which makes everything better. Dried herbs such as herbs de Provence compliments a lemon vinaigrette.
This salad with lemon vinaigrette recipe is not complicated.
but requires the right balance of fat, acid and salt. This means you will need to taste along the way.
In this salad I used feta cheese that was packed in brine from Trader Joe’s. The olive oil has to be extra virgin and on the milder side. There is nothing worse than a a heavy olive oil dominating a salad except a salad with too much dressing.
Tips for a Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe
- Acid to oil ratio. The ratio of acid (lemon and/or vinegar will be anywhere from 1 to 4 parts olive oil to 1 to 3 parts olive olive oil. I go by taste, and you should too. A good rule of thumb is to start with 1 part acid to 2 parts oil. You can always add more oil if the dressing is too acidic.
- Use an emulsifier. I use dijon mustard which keeps the dressing together. Mix with acids first, then add the oil half at a time. Shake and taste.
- Sturdy lettuce such as romaine and iceberg require more dressing Spring greens will use one fourth to one third the amount. The heavier lettuces do very well with lemony vinaigrettes. A mix of sturdy romaine lettuce with delicate arugula is fabulous. It’s pretty. The arugula adds a peppery flavor and the mixed textures work.
- Dried herbs marry well with a lemony vinaigrette and I recommend herbs de provence or a dried thyme or tarragon.
- Salad needs salt. Keep that in mind when tasting.
- Sheep Cheeses like a good crumbled feta or shaved Pecorino Romano complement a lemon vinaigrette well.
- Soft Hard Boiled eggs can serve as a protein.
Two Ways to Make Soft Hard Boiled Eggs
- Place in cold water, bring to boil, reduce to a simmer for no longer than three minutes. Soft, but no runny yolk.
- If you want a runny soft boiled egg, place in boiling water for 6.5 minutes.
I added some seared salmon to this salad, but any fatty meat likes this too.
You can also use the lemon vinaigrette for vegetables like green beans, kale, roast chicken, potatoes, etc.
More Vinaigrette Recipes from Spinach Tiger
More Salad Recipes from Spinach Tiger
Lemon Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 6 to 8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon herbs de provence
- sea salt black pepper
Instructions
- Mix lemon juice, zest and vinegar together with dijon mustard.
- Slowly add olive oil or add and shake in jar.
- Add herbs, salt, pepper to taste.
- You can reserve the herbs for the salad along with the zest.
- Toss greens first with just enough dressing, not overdoing. How much you use will depend on how many greens you use.
Notes
I added in crumbled feta cheese and soft hard boiled eggs.
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- 6 eggs
- teaspoon salt
- teaspoon white vinegar
- Method 1: Soft Hard Boiled Eggs (no runny yoik) 1
- Place eggs in cold water with salt and vinegar. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook no longer than three minutes. Run under cold water to stop the cooking.
- Method 2: Runny Yolk Soft Boiled Egg
- Place eggs in boiling water that has salt and vinegar. Cook for 6.5 minutes. Run under cold water to stop the cooking.
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I’ll be trying this recipe soon, sounds wonderful.
Lately, I’ve been making my boiled eggs in my Instant Pot. Works great, and they peel so nicely. 4 minutes, manual low pressure with a quick release makes a nice soft boiled – if I wanted the yolk less runny I would add a minute to the cook time.
I’ve been making lemon vinaigrette for years–I never thought to add Dijon mustard to hold it together. Never thought to combine lemon and vinegar either. I had Pinot Grigio vinegar, so I used that. It was marvelous. Didn’t even have to whisk it. I like a simple side of dressed greens, rather than a more elaborate salad. Thanks for the inspiration.