Leave it Julia Child to come up with the one and only salad dressing recipe that you will need in your life! Julia Child’s 5:1 French salad dressing recipe is delicious, easy to make and just makes sense!
Forget complicated concoctions—this one’s all about simplicity and flavour punch. If you are a fan of not too vinegary salad dressings, then this one is for you!
If you like this blog post, check out my recipe for Classic French Onion Soup where I chat about techniques from Julia Child’s recipe for Onion Soup.
If you are looking for some salad or buddha bowl inspiration check out my article called 7 Days of Buddha Bowls From Around The World
More About Julia Child
Julia Child isn’t just a culinary icon—she’s the epitome of passion and perseverance. She found joy in cooking and strived to educate herself to ensure that the recipe was made to perfection.
Julia taught us that mistakes are just opportunities for delicious discoveries and that a love for food is where it is at.
Her spirit and infectious love for life remind us to embrace our quirks, follow our passions, and savour every moment in the kitchen and beyond.
Julia Child isn’t just the best—she’s an inspiration, reminding us to live life with gusto and a dash of butter.
Julia Child is my role model and mentor. I aspire to be like her in the kitchen and throughout my life. She has taught me that it is ok to make mistakes in the kitchen and to never apologize for a flopped dish.
I also love she says that every women should own a torch! That is great advice!
Julia Child was kind, hard working, a great listener and always had a smile on her face. Nothing could be wrong in the kitchen although there just may be a better way. I could go on-and-on about Julia, but I will leave it for now saying that I feel fortunate to have gained a wealth of knowledge from her teachings in the kitchen and in my life.
If you want to delve into the world of Julia Child a little more, check out her autobiographical book on her life: Dearie Me: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child.
I also have her original cookbooks: Mastering the Art Of French Cooking: Volumes 1 & 2
You can also watch Julia Child and The French Chef Cooking videos on YouTube. You can learn so much from her especially techniques, and step-by-step instructions on the basics in the kitchen.
The secrets behind the 5:1 French Dressing
This recipe is for those who may not like a strong vinegary salad. I am one of those people. That is why I absolutely love this recipe. It is basically 1 part Vinegar to 5 parts extra light tasting olive oil. It is just enough of a subtle hint of vinegar that is not over-bearing.
For a single salad to feed 4 people as a side dish at dinner the ratio will be: 1 tbsp. Vinegar to 5 tbsp. extra light tasting olive oil. Julia Child loved using Sherry Wine Vinegar. I love to use Bertolli Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil.
The biggest take away from this recipe is something so simple that I can’t believe I didn’t think of before! The secret ingredient: Dry Mustard powder! Yes, who knew that dry mustard powder adds incredible flavour and also brings the dressing together or helps to emulsify the dressing. It is a game changer. Amazing!
Ingredients:
Here are the ingredients to make the salad dressing:
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1 clove garlic or diced shallot
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tbsp. Sherry Wine Vinegar
- 5 tbsp. Extra Light Olive Oil
- Optional: 1 tsp. herbs any that you like: Oregano, thyme, basil, tarragon etc.
Instructions:
Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar, seal the lid and give it a good shake. Taste, and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
Let's Make It Together!
Julia Child's 5:1 French Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. dry mustard powder
- 1 clove garlic or diced shallot
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 tbsp. Sherry Wine Vinegar
- 5 tbsp. Extra Light Olive Oil
- Optional: 1 tsp. herbs any that you like: Oregano thyme, basil, tarragon etc.
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a mason jar, seal the lid and give it a good shake. Taste, and adjust the seasoning as necessary.
Let's Eat!
I hope that you find this salad dressing is easy to make and very satisfying! I have been using this recipe as a base ratio salad dressing and then change it up by adding different herbs each time that I make it! I love this recipe and I hope you do too! I would love to hear from you! Drop me a line, ask me a question. I love talking about food!
So dress up some greens, add your favourite toppings and enjoy this amazing salad dressing! I have to say it: Bon Appetit!
