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Mustard and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Mustard and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

1 garlic head (about 2 ½ ounces), intact½ teaspoon olive oil ¼ cup olive oil ½ teaspoon table salt 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper 2 tablespoons water (hot from tap)

Before You Begin

A little water is added to this vinaigrette to counter the thickening effect of the roasted garlic. Use the vinaigrette over grilled or roasted vegetables.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove outer papery skins from head of garlic; cut 1/2 inch off top to expose most cloves. Place garlic head cut-side up in center of 8-inch-long piece of foil; drizzle cut surface with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gather corners of foil and twist to seal. Roast garlic until cloves are soft and golden, about 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze cloves from skins into small nonreactive bowl; using a fork, mash garlic to paste.
  2. Add remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, vinegar, mustard, thyme, pepper, and water to bowl with garlic; whisk until blended and creamy. (Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week; return to room temperature before using.)
Mustard and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Mustard and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1¼ hours

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes about 1/2 cup)

Ingredients

1 garlic head (about 2 ½ ounces), intact
½ teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons water (hot from tap)

Ingredients

1 garlic head (about 2 ½ ounces), intact
½ teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons water (hot from tap)

Ingredients

1 garlic head (about 2 ½ ounces), intact
½ teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup olive oil
½ teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons water (hot from tap)

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted an assertive, bold, balanced vinaigrette recipe that would stand up to hearty greens and complement the concentrated flavors of grilled or roasted vegetables, chicken, or fish. We preferred Dijon mustard in our vinaigrette recipe for its softer heat and smooth texture, balsamic vinegar for its caramelized sweetness, and regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for its simple, pure flavor. Combining the three in a 4:1 ratio of oil to acid and adding assorted fresh herbs gave us the dressing we desired.

Before You Begin

A little water is added to this vinaigrette to counter the thickening effect of the roasted garlic. Use the vinaigrette over grilled or roasted vegetables.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Remove outer papery skins from head of garlic; cut 1/2 inch off top to expose most cloves. Place garlic head cut-side up in center of 8-inch-long piece of foil; drizzle cut surface with 1/2 teaspoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gather corners of foil and twist to seal. Roast garlic until cloves are soft and golden, about 45 minutes. When cool enough to handle, squeeze cloves from skins into small nonreactive bowl; using a fork, mash garlic to paste.
  2. Add remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, vinegar, mustard, thyme, pepper, and water to bowl with garlic; whisk until blended and creamy. (Can be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week; return to room temperature before using.)

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