Instructions

1. Squeeze the oranges and strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth. Pour the orange juice in a blender, glass jar or mixing bowl. The amount of juice you use comprises 1 part of the vinaigrette.

2. Add 3 parts oil to the orange juice. You can use any oil, but the flavor of the oil influences the taste of the vinaigrette just as much or more than the orange juice itself. If you want a basic taste with orange at the front, use any oil labeled "salad oil," or a neutral oil, such as sunflower, safflower or canola oil. If you want to make things interesting, try a flavored oil, such as garlic or basil, or alternative oils, such as pumpkin seed or walnut. Extra-virgin olive oil also works with sweet or sour oranges.

3. Add a small dollop of Dijon mustard to the vinaigrette, if desired. Dijon mustard is a natural emulsifier, and it helps hold the vinaigrette together longer. It also contrasts the sweetness of the orange juice nicely. Dijon isn't an essential ingredient, though. Blend the vinaigrette until homogenous and taste it.

4. Adjust the seasoning as needed and determine if the dressing needs vinegar to cut the sweetness or to add complexity to the flavor profile. Add vinegar to taste if you decide the vinaigrette will benefit from it. Most flavored vinegars and distilled vinegar work with most orange varieties, so you can select one according to your taste. For example, cider vinegar gives the orange vinaigrette a rounded fruity taste; balsamic vinegar adds richness and complexity to the orange vinaigrette, but it works best when using an acidic orange.

5. Add secondary flavoring ingredients to the vinaigrette, if desired. This is where you can really make the orange vinaigrette your own. Pungents, such as minced shallots or garlic and aromatics, such as freshly chopped herbs, can take the vinaigrette in a direction that can complement or contrast the dish you're serving it with.

6. Mix the vinaigrette and pour it in a bottle or food-storage container in the refrigerator until you need it. Mix the vinaigrette right before you serve it.