Mustard Powder Plus 2 Ingredients Is All You Need To Make A Simple Vinaigrette

Many people believe that the reason you absolutely need dry mustard in your pantry is mainly to flavor meats and stews, but it's also a key ingredient in one of the tastiest three-ingredient vinaigrette dressings you'll ever enjoy. Available in the seasonings aisle of pretty much any grocery store, dry mustard (aka ground mustard or mustard powder) is made from the dried and powdered seeds of the mustard plant. It's ochre yellow in color with a zesty, sharp flavor and aroma. Additionally, unlike its bottled cousin, it requires no refrigeration and is both shelf and pantry stable.

The other two ingredients in this delicious miracle dressing are balsamic vinegar and olive oil, two more common pantry staples that are as versatile as they are tasty. Though this dish is similar to a vinaigrette made with prepared mustard, ground mustard is an easy shelf stable swap — though you'll want to use about a third as much dry mustard as the bottled stuff, since mustard powder is more concentrated in terms of flavor. Whisked together with the oil and vinegar, it rehydrates and turns the dressing a lovely golden brown color along with imparting tons of flavor.

Especially when you use the proper 3-to-1 ratio of oil to acid when making your salad dressing, these three ingredients create a tangy, bright vinaigrette. Lightly sweet from the balsamic, earthy from the olive oil, and beautifully zesty from the mustard powder, it's delicious on kale salads, savory roasted vegetables, and grilled seafood.

Though the original recipe calls for a specific type of oil and vinegar, as long as you have ground mustard, an acid, and a fat, you can make a delicious salad dressing with what you've got on hand. For instance, swapping traditional balsamic for white balsamic will create a sweeter, lighter dressing with more tart nuances than ordinary dark balsamic. Apple cider vinegar will create a fruity, autumnal flavor profile with the dry mustard that would be especially delicious over pulled pork or over a salad containing toasted pecans and roasted fruit.

Dry mustard also makes a delicious three-ingredient red wine vinaigrette, particularly if you like an extremely tangy, savory dressing. Red wine vinegar is more tart than the other options listed, so it makes the mustard powder taste almost spicy. The fat essential to any vinaigrette dressing softens the acidity a bit for a balanced flavor. Olive oil imparts fruity earthiness, but canola and avocado oil are both neutral options that highlight acid and mustard instead. You can also go with sesame oil for nutty astringence that's particularly good on citrus fruit and Asian-inspired dishes.

Of course, there are other ways to add flavor to this dressing than mixing and matching the main ingredients. Roasted garlic, cracked peppercorns, and dried tarragon or oregano are also delicious additions that add savory dimension to this dressing. After whisking all the ingredients together until it's fully emulsified, be sure to let it sit so the flavors can bloom.