Ingredients

• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup or more vinegar (my favorite is a good-quality sherry or white wine vinegar)

• Large pinch kosher salt

• Several grinds black pepper

• Small pinch sugar

• 1 to 2 cloves garlic—use garlic press or mince very finely

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Method

• Combine all ingredients and whisk until thickened.

• Taste and adjust for seasoning; add more oil if too vinegary.

• Serve at room temperature but store in the refrigerator.

Try This:

A delicious variation of Everyday Vinaigrette requires just a few ingredient substitutions. For a lighter version, replace olive oil with ¼ cup olive oil and ¼ cup grapeseed oil. Replace the Dijon mustard with the juice of half a blood orange. Replace the sherry vinegar with ¼ cup balsamic vinegar (avoid the aged syrupy version). Add 2 additional cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced. Mix all ingredients but the oil together and taste. Drizzle the oil in while mixing; this will help the mixture emulsify for a thicker dressing. The dressing should be very garlicky with a sweet undertone.