This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Chive Lemon Vinaigrette is the perfect seasonal bridge
In May we begin to see our chive plants really come into their own. We can still get plenty of nice citrus. So the combo of flavors in Lemon Chive Vinaigrette makes a lot of sense. And nearly anyone has the space to grow some chives.
Chives are easy to grow
Chives aren’t the easiest plant to get started though. The seeds are super tiny and they take a long time to time germinate. You might give up on them entirely before they even get started. Patience does pay off. On the other hand, they are an easy plant to find. Just about every store has pots of herbs this time of year. There are a couple brands that sell sizable pots of chives in national chain stores for around 5 bucks. Even better is to find them in a local plant store. I start a lot of our own seeds, but I am not above buying chives.
Grow chives in the ground or a pot
They can be planted right in the ground – even at the edge of a flower bed if you don’t grow vegetables. Once they’ve gotten through the first summer, you don’t have to do a lot. They will come up again every year, get bigger, and they even have a cute little flower if you don’t cut them back for awhile.
I like to keep a small amount of herbs growing in a sunny spot on the front porch, so they are close to hand for cooking. I always tuck a bit of chives in there with the basil and rosemary. You can just see them peeking out at the back of the pot.
Lemon Chive Vinaigrette isn’t the only reason to grow chives, but for certain it’s a good reason.
The chives growing out in the garden are multiple years old. It’s not unusual for me to be seduced into buying more and sticking them in a new spot. They’re a good companion plant. The strong odor tends to keep some kinds of bugs away from veggies they might want to munch on. If you spend much time here, you know my philosophy that just about everyone can grow something to break the reliance on the grocery store
Chive Lemon Vinaigrette takes just minutes to make
Chop the chives rather finely, remove the zest from the lemons, and then squeeze out the juice [trust me, you want to do it in that order], assemble the other ingredients and in a short time, you have vinaigrette. I like to make it at least a few hours ahead of time, giving the flavors time to blend together and the chives and lemon zest time to infuse in the vinegar and oil.
Chive Lemon Vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 large lemons, juiced
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 teaspoon honey [or agave]
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 5-6 grinds fresh black pepper
- 2/3 cup olive or avocado oil
- 1/3 cup freshly snipped chives
Instructions
- Use a bowl with high sides to make the whisking easier. You might want to anchor it with a dish towel so it doesn't slide around.
- To the bowl, add the lemon zest [zest the lemon before juicing it], lemon juice, garlic, honey, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Whisk until the salt is dissolved and the honey is completely incorporated.
- Stream in the oil very slowly, whisking all the while, until you get a nice emulsion.
- Stir in the chives.
- To develop the fullest flavor, let sit at room temperature for at least 10 minutes.
- Serve over salad, lightly steamed or grilled vegetables, grilled chicken or anything you like.
Notes
Nutrition
Enjoy on a salad
As is the case with most vinaigrettes, you will be able to find a lot of different ways to use this. It is wonderful on a simple salad, like the one above, made from butter lettuce, avocados and a few other additions, as well as a great fast marinade for grilled chicken breasts, and was so good on fresh asparagus, that we made a meal of that alone. So, go plant a little chive patch if you don’t have one already, and in the meantime, check out your local Farmer’s Market or farm stand – chives are one of early summer’s greatest gifts!
I have some other great salad dressings and vinaigrettes here on the blog: Fresh Bacon Ranch, Tomato Vinaigrette and Creamy Feta Dressing – go check those out too!
Don’t have an herb or vegetable garden? A little patch of chives is an easy and attractive addition to an existing flower or perennial bed. They even make a nice bunch of pretty purple or white flowers early in the summer. And the more you cut them to use, the better they will grow. Think of them as a gateway plant to growing your own food, if you are looking to get your feet wet in a small way. You can just snip them over whatever you are eating: salads, omelets, stir fry, grilled chicken, potatoes. The mild flavor goes really well with nearly everything.
This post was originally made in 2013, updated in April 2023, and updated again in May 2024
Seedless Blackberry Jam {no pectin recipe}
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
Rainbow Veggie Slaw
Strawberry Preserves {No Pectin Recipe}
Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Crispy Zucchini Fritters
Jalapeno Garlic Dill Pickles
Savory Chive Cream Cheese Scones
Lemon Ginger Apple Butter
Beet and Horseradish Relish
Donalyn,
You’ve just made me realize that the little plant in the corner of my herb bed, the thing that I assumed was a clump of wild onions that had wandered in, is more than likely chives that one of my folks gave to me a long while ago. I’ll know for sure when they flower, but in the meantime–thanks for this recipe. It looks just marvelous. My CSA farm share started up this past week and I’m enjoying fresh salad mix after a long winter’s drought.
LOL – glad I could help Kirsten! Sometime this week, we’ll be enjoying a fresh salad from our garden – the lettuce and spinach are both nearly ready to pick!
This looks super tasty Donalyn! And this is my first week of getting your newsletter, so I wanted to say that I love it! I can’t wait to see the next one!
Thanks so much for telling me that Aggie – always appreciated and welcome!
Chives really are rewarding to grow. They keep coming back, and of course have a nice flavor. Great looking recipe – such a nice way to use chives. Thanks.
Thank you John – I use them as much as I can all summer long!
Hello – so good to find a ‘neighbor’ who also loves food. I’ll be checking back to see what you’re stirring up in your kitchen. Thanks for this excellent recipe in which I can use my homegrown chives.
Nice to meet you as well Kathleen & I’ll definitely be stopping by your blog again too!
Chives are one of my favorite herbs to grow too. I don’t use them often, but when I do, it’s so nice to have them on hand and not have to buy a big bunch of them at the grocery store.
I agree Kiersten – and they are SO easy to grow!
Your vinaigrette sounds terrific. The chives in my garden keep getting thicker and thicker. I just pulled lots of baby plants that came up from the blossom’s seeds that got blown through the garden. Even with Maine’s harsh winters, it is the first plant that breaks through the ground each year.
That is the case here as well Karen- a very welcome blast of fresh green stuff in the early spring!
That vinaigrette looks and sounds heavenly! Yum!
Thanks Kiran -I hope you give it a try!
Thanks! I will use this – maybe with some Silver Lemon Thyme too : )
A perfect dressing to go with any green or veggie salad. I’m whipping this up this week for sure.
With a ton of chives in my garden, I was looking for a way to use them and found this recipe. People – you gotta try this. It’s amazing!
Aw, thanks, Janet – looking forward to using a lot of chives in it myself.
I need to add this fabulous vinaigrette to my repertoire right now.
Thank you Andrea – I hope you like it ♥
This was a deliciously light salad dressing for my lunch today! The chives gave it great flavor, and the lemon was bright and acidic – the perfect balance!
Thank you Anjali – I am so glad that you enjoyed it!
This was such a simple, yet super delish dressing for my salad! So easy to make and so full of flavor!
Thank you Neeha – very glad that you enjoyed it ♥
I have loads of fresh chive in my garden right now so I know what I am making for my salad next week. Thank you!
Anytime, Harriet! Fresh chives are such a great thing to have in the garden 🙂
Flavorful, simple, and delicious vinaigrette recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Kushi – glad that you liked it!
This is a lovely vinaigrette. Making daily now!