+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 4 of 4
  1. #1
    Senior Member ibcheft is on a distinguished road ibcheft's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Southern US
    Posts
    2,258
    Recipes
    1
    Blog Entries
    13
    Rep Power
    5

    Question Why do they call a dressing a Vinaigrette ?

    Why is it they call a dressing for salad a Vinaigrette, when there is no vinegar in it ? as say in this summer salad posted in another post
    Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette

    1/2 watermelon
    1 cantaloupe, cut in half, seeded
    2 tablespoons freshly chopped mint leaves plus whole sprigs, for garnish
    2 tablespoons freshly chopped basil leaves plus whole sprigs, for garnish
    1 lemon juiced (1/4 cup)
    1/4 cup simple syrup (equal amounts sugar and water heated until sugar dissolves, cool)
    1/8 teaspoon amaretto

    Recipes : Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad with Mint and Basil Vinaigrette : Food Network

    is this a French thing, something in the classic cooking education ?

    prepared with passion and served with love !

    I do not cook to live, but live to cook !

  2. #2
    Site owner Food Network Fan will become famous soon enough Food Network Fan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    West Virginia
    Posts
    17,784
    Recipes
    14
    Blog Entries
    11
    Rep Power
    10
    A vinaigrette is formulaic, its basic components usually 3 parts oil (olive, walnut, etc.) to 1 part acid (red wine vinegar, lemon juice, etc.), a little mustard to help the oil and vinegar mix, plus salt and pepper. Tasting helps you adjust the ratio each time. Vinaigrettes are potent sources of taste and flavor. Oil, acid and salt stimulate three of five tastes the tongue detects: bitter (oil), sour (acid) and salty (salt). Diced relatives of the onion add sweetness and pungency. (When I have time, I let diced shallot or onion mellow in the acid for 15 minutes before adding the oil, a la Alice Waters’ suggestion in her book Chez Panisse Vegetables.) A touch of soy sauce, miso, ketchup or diced tomato can complete the taste spectrum by bringing umami and additional sweetness. Chopped herbs add lots of flavor.
    I usually default to olive oil, champagne vinegar and lemon juice. But the beauty of thinking of vinaigrettes as a combination of set components is that it allows you the freedom to mix and match the components according to what’s in your refrigerator and pantry, which type of cuisine you’re aiming for and what kinds of tastes and flavors you’ll be dressing.
    Once you know the formula, a quick whisk and drizzle can elevate an otherwise too-plain dish. Some good matches: asparagus with a lemon tarragon vinaigrette; grilled chicken with a miso vinaigrette; roasted pork loin with a rosemary balsamic vinaigrette. Once you’re comfortable with the formula, the combinations are endless.

    SOURCE


  3. #3
    Site owner Food Network Fan will become famous soon enough Food Network Fan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    West Virginia
    Posts
    17,784
    Recipes
    14
    Blog Entries
    11
    Rep Power
    10
    I guess it's any acid. In that one, seems like it would be the lemon.


  4. #4
    The Candyman! Bentley Green is on a distinguished road Bentley Green's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    East Boston, MA.
    Posts
    2,976
    Rep Power
    4
    Did anyone know that vinagrette is one of the 5 mother sauces?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

     

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Web Analytics
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42