Name: Garlic and Dijon Salad Dressing
Ingredients: 100 mL extra virgin olive oil; 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 3 cloves of fresh garlic; 20 mL white wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon sugar

Why it works: Olive and garlic are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 2% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 25,665 recipes. Both carry linalool, which smells floral, citrus. The science ↓

Garlic and Dijon Salad Dressing

Ingredients

Directions

Mix all ingredients in a blender or food processor.
Add to any green salad or use as a mayonnaise substitute.

Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)

185Calories

0 gProtein

14 gFat

15 gCarbs

What these numbers assume: 6 portions

Ingredient	Portion assumed	kcal
Olive Oil	1 tbsp (14g)	119
Sugar	1 tbsp (12.5g) granulated	49
Clove	1 tsp ground (2g)	7
Garlic	1 clove (3g)	4
Mustard	1 tsp (5g) yellow	3
Vinegar	1 tbsp (15ml) distilled	3

One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.

Recipe from the Recipes Wiki (Fandom).

Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.

Explore the science

The flavor team

The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.

Olive + garlictop 2% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together25,665 recipes

Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
Mustard + garlictop 6% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together4,053 recipes

Shared aroma: linalool (floral, citrus).
Mustard + vinegartop 7% of all pairs

Smell alikemoderate

Cooked together14,067 recipes

Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
Olive + mustardtop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together5,950 recipes

Shared aroma: eucalyptol (eucalyptus, herbal).
Mustard + clovetop 8% of all pairs

Smell alikestrong

Cooked together3,829 recipes

Shared aroma: methyleugenol (clove, spice).

Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs

What each ingredient does

Extra virgin olive oil: Provides the fat that makes up most of the dressing's body and richness.
Dijon mustard: Acts as an emulsifier, helping the oil and vinegar stay blended together.
Garlic: Contributes the sharp, aromatic flavour that defines the dressing.
White wine vinegar: Adds acidity that brightens the dressing and cuts through the oil.
Sugar: Adds a little sweetness that balances the acidity of the vinegar.

Swap the clove

How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (olive, mustard, garlic, white wine, vinegar, sugar):

Tarragonfits better
Capersfits better
Thymefits better
Clovethe original

Fit is the average pairing score against olive, mustard, garlic, white wine, vinegar, sugar. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.

“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.