How to Make a Simple 3-2-1-1 Salad Dressing in One Minute or Less

I am, admittedly, not a great cook. But, thanks to my love of cooking shows and plenty of time at home to practice, I am improving my skills. As I was scrolling through food videos on TikTok, I came across a clip from Food Network star Alex Guarnaschelli sharing an unbelievably easy salad dressing recipe that even I could do. It's only four ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, it's ridiculously easy, and after whipping it up in about a minute, I can confirm that it's delicious. (I think it can even convince non-salad lovers to eat their greens.)

I'm a vegetarian, so my diet consists of lots of carbs and vegetables. I eat a lot of salads, but I'm not a fan of bottled dressings; they're just not always the tastiest, and I've realized that making my own salad dressing is simple and often tastes so much better than store-bought dressings. In my quest to find the perfect homemade salad dressing, I was excited to try Guarnaschelli's recipe. In the video, she calls the recipe her "3-2-1-1 vinaigrette," representing each ingredient's measurements. Here's what you'll need.

Alex Guarnaschelli's 3-2-1-1 Salad Dressing Vinaigrette

• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon water

All you have to do is mix all your ingredients in a jar. Guarnaschelli used a plastic food container, and I used a Mason jar ($11 for 12-pack, Target) because it's easy to shake without spilling and doubles as the perfect storage container for leftover dressing. After shaking for about 10 seconds, everything was mixed, and I gave the dressing a taste. I thought I'd like it because I love Dijon, and if you do, too, this is the recipe for you. It's a light, tangy vinaigrette that is perfect for side salads. (I know this because I put one together right away.)

I dressed my romaine with the vinaigrette and added a few grape tomatoes and some red onions, a must for my side salads. The only thing that was missing was a piece of pizza and a glass of wine because that is my perfect meal.

This 3-2-1-1 salad dressing is easy to make and I didn't need to buy any ingredients. It also didn't result in a bunch of dirty dishes, and most importantly, it tastes delicious. Try it on your next salad for a lightweight, low-effort boost of major flavor.