Are you having champagne this New Year's Eve? Why not reserve a small amount for your salad? Most champagne vinaigrette recipes use champagne vinegar. My recipe uses actual champagne!
![]() |
To download this free recipe PDF, click here. |
To download my recipe now in a PDF form, click here. OR read the entire blog post with extra tips and photos by scroll downing or clicking here or on the Read More link below...
"Waste not," says Mr. Fellows. Save those last few tablespoons of New Year's champagne to make my Champagne Vinaigrette |
When the countdown is done, the ball has dropped, and the last of the champagne has gone flat, waste not.
![]() |
Cleo Coyle has a partner in
crime-writing—her husband.
Learn about their books
|
Yes, I know, champagne vinaigrette is typically made with champagne vinegar, but I prefer my version for frugality and fun. My vinaigrette is light, bright, refreshing, and the delicate flavor of champagne comes through very nicely.
A fresh salad is also an especially intelligent way to start off the New Year. Why? Lettuce is mostly water and hydrating will help set your body right after an evening imbibing to excess (aka attempting to pickle yourself).
My amateur sleuth, Clare Cosi, actually received this same advice from her ex-husband, Matt, a guy highly skilled in the art of party survival...
🍸
Got a hangover? Follow of the advice of Matt and Mr. Fellows,one of my many rescued New York strays...
“Drink lots of water. Hydrate with salad. Even better, dress those crisp, healthy, greens with a hair of the cat that bit you!"
🍸
My recipe and photos in this post were part of a past Foodbuzz Top 9 Pick among thousands of food bloggers around the world.
Cleo Coyle’s Champagne Vinaigrette
Servings: This recipe makes about 3 tablespoons of vinaigrette, enough to dress an average salad for two.
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons champagne (fresh and bubbly or flat and leftover, either will work)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon white rice vinegar (or white or cider vinegar or lemon juice)
Directions: Combine all ingredients (but the garlic) in a small bowl and whisk well with a fork. Add the garlic and let stand 15 minutes (this optional step will impart a light garlic flavor). Remove all of the raw garlic. Whisk again and pour the dressing over your favorite salad. The salad you see in my photos is one I often enjoy: romaine lettuce and mixed greens, grape tomatoes sliced in half, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
Cleo's Final Tips
* Vinegar: I like white rice vinegar for this dressing, but any white vinegar will impart that needed note of astringent brightness, which will balance the sweetness of the champagne. If you don’t have any white vinegars on hand, use lemon juice to taste. I would not recommend red or balsamic vinegar for this vinairgrette. Not only will those darker, heavier vinegars overpower the delicate champagne flavor, they will change the dressing’s color and defeat the culinary concept. (Then again, if you’re hung over, snow is piling up outside, and it’s all you have on hand, it will have to do.)
* The oil flavor really shines through in this vinaigrette so choose a good quality extra virgin olive oil.
* Salt: sea salt and Kosher salt are much better choices than table salt for flavor.
* Pepper: I often use black pepper or a pepper mix for this dressing, but if you want a really nice presentation, use white pepper. Grinding it fresh always gives you better flavor.
![]() |
To download this free recipe PDF, click here. |
☕ ☕ ☕
Happy New Year!
~ Cleo Coyle
New York Times bestselling author of
The Coffeehouse Mysteries
Yes, this is me, Cleo (aka Alice).
Friend me on facebook here.
Follow me on twitter here.
Visit my online coffeehouse here.
|
* * *
is now a bestseller in paperback!
To buy now, click links for...
☕ ☕ ☕
This culinary mystery includes
more than 25 delicious
new recipes! Get a free
Recipe Guide by clicking here!
* * *
The bestselling Penguin hardcover
is now a bestseller in paperback!
To buy now, click links for...
A Best of the Year Pick ~ Kings River Life
"Fresh and fun...clever" ~ Booklist
A Mystery Guild Selection
*
Join coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi as she solves the crime against "Sleeping Beauty," opens secret doors (uptown and down), and investigates a cold case that's been unsolved since the Cold War.
*
*
Join coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi as she solves the crime against "Sleeping Beauty," opens secret doors (uptown and down), and investigates a cold case that's been unsolved since the Cold War.
*
* Dairy-Free "Cinderella" Pumpkin Cake
* Dairy-Free Almond Milk Custard
* Caramel-Dipped Meltaway Cookies
* Black Forest Brownies
* Cappuccino Blondies
* Shrimp Kiev
* Dr Pepper Glazed Chicken
* Silver Dollar Chocolate Chip Cookies
* Poor Man's Caviar
* Snow White Chocolate Mocha
...and many more recipes, including
a guide to reading coffee grinds...