To complement her delicious homemade macaroni and cheese, Maxine prepares a simple yet refreshing side salad. She will toss some mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber with a freshly made basic vinaigrette. The vinaigrette, a simple emulsion of olive oil, vinegar, Dijon mustard, an optional touch of honey, salt, and pepper. This refreshing salad adds a bright and tangy counterpoint to the richness of the mac and cheese. The quick and easy preparation of the vinaigrette and salad perfectly fills in the cooking time of the macaroni and cheese, creating a well-balanced and satisfying meal.
Basic Vinaigrette🥗
Vinaigrette is an emulsion, a simple yet versatile dressing primarily composed of oil and acid. The most common acid is vinegar, but others like lemon or lime juice can also be used. The addition of herbs, spices, and other flavor enhancers, allows for endless variations
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp vinegar red wine, balsamic, or lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey optional
- Salt & black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together mustard, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly add olive oil while whisking to emulsify.
- Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Toss with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.