Quick and Easy Fat-Free Vegan Dijon Vinaigrette

Fat-free vegan Dijon

The Spruce Eats

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 5 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1/2 cup

If you need a quick oil-free and fat-free vegan salad dressing recipe, this one will likely become a favorite. Most salad dressing recipes use some kind of oil as a base, which adds lots of fat as well as flavor. But this one is unique because it uses rice vinegar instead for a delicious, tangy, and fat-free dressing recipe you can make over and over again. 

This versatile dressing works well with lots of different salads. The flavor is a little tangy from the Dijon and vinegar, but the latter also adds a bit of sweetness. If you're used to creamy and heavier-tasting salad dressings, such as blue cheese or ranch, a vinegar-based dressing may be a surprise. Consider this Dijon dressing if you prefer lighter styles such as Italian or balsamic vinaigrette; this simple one makes a good substitute. 

All of the ingredients in this recipe are vegan and also suitable for anyone on a gluten-free or wheat-free diet. 

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 dash salt, to taste

  • 1 dash pepper, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for fat-free vegan Dijon salad dressing recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats

  2. Place all the ingredients together in a small bowl. Using a fork or a small whisk, whisk everything together until fully combined.

    Dressing ingredients stirred together in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats

  3. Taste, and adjust seasonings to taste.

    Green salad in white bowl with fat-free Dijon vegan dressing

    The Spruce Eats

  4. Use as desired and enjoy.

Variations

  • You can vary the kind of vinegar you use in this recipe. For a more bracing and tangier version, use apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar.
  • You can also try an infused vinegar (lemon is especially good) for a variation on this mustard-accented dressing.
  • Feel free to add or exchange the minced garlic for finely minced shallots.
  • If you're not following a vegan diet, you can add a couple of teaspoons of honey to this dressing.
  • Feel free to add a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh herbs if you have them. Parsley, chives, or thyme work well together, or try a combination of all three.

Tips

  • There are so many ways to use salad dressing besides just using it to dress your favorite fresh green salad. Try using a salad dressing to dress a side dish of fresh steamed vegetables such as broccoli or kale or even to dress up some frozen veggies straight out of the bag.
  • You can turn just about any combination of leftover cooked pasta and some veggies into a simple vegetarian pasta salad with the addition of just about any salad dressing, or create a high-protein bean salad in the same way. Serve it cold or at room temperature.
  • Having a cookout? Use this dressing as a marinade for grilling tofu or seitan, or even just drizzle on a simple baked potato or oven-roasted new potatoes. It's an easy way to dress up a side dish.

How to Store Fat-Free Vegan Dijon Dressing

This dressing will keep at room temperature in a covered container or sealed jar for about a week.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
9 Calories
0g Fat
1g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 9
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 107mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 0%
Potassium 11mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)