Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette is a cold, unthickened sauce that is a mixture of oil, wine vinegar, salt, pepper, and possibly some other spices, all whisked together. Depending on how it is to be used, it can be varied by the addition of other ingredients, such as mustard, lemon juice, and tomato puree. In its simplest form, this type of dressing is not emulsified and the oil and vinegar separate partially from each other. When shaken, the mixture thickens a little because the oil is broken up into tiny droplets. When left to stand for a period of time, the principal ingredients separate again and the vinaigrette needs to be shaken vigorously before each use.