I had a friend in high school who loved French dressing on everything, including her pizza. I never understood why she loved it so much. Since my mom and oldest son both like it a lot too I decided to find a good homemade version.

French Dressing?

French salad dressing as we know it today didn’t exist until recently. Until the 1960s, classic French vinaigrette was originally a healthy oil and vinegar dressing and is what we now just call vinaigrette. Vintage cookbooks listed seasonings like black pepper and lemon juice, later adding shallots, garlic powder, Dijon mustard, and other ingredients.

Over the years ingredients like paprika (and even ketchup) were added to make the bright orange version popular today.

It may not be from France at all but it’s certainly an American favorite.

And up until recently, French dressing ingredients were regulated by the FDA. That’s because starting in 1920 mineral oil (yep, from petroleum) became a popular replacement for olive oil. Mineral oil is undigestible and acts as a laxative so it became a popular replacement in salad dressing for weight loss.

Eventually, processed food brands created spin-off options like Catalina dressing and creamy French dressing.

Real Food French Dressing

This homemade version made me understand why people love French dressing so much. With only real food ingredients and no vegetable oils or gobs of processed sugar, it’s easy and delicious. We like it on almost any meal (except maybe pizza?). I tried to balance the original oil and vinegar base with a slight bit of sweetness reminiscent of the newer version.

I use white wine vinegar, but red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will also work (though they do taste stronger). The tomato paste adds color and flavor without adding tons of sugar. And the honey adds a little sweetness and acts as an emulsifier for the oil and vinegar.

My kids enjoy dipping fresh veggies in this salad dressing (probably because it resembles homemade ketchup). If you’re a fan of French dressing (or perhaps even if you aren’t), try this healthier homemade version instead.

More Salad Dressing Recipes

I love a good salad so I try to keep it fresh with different salad dressings. Here are a few of our favorites.

What’s your favorite thing to eat with French dressing? Leave a comment and let us know!