Total time: 5 min • Prep: 5 min • Cook: 0 min • Serves: 8 • Difficulty: Easy

It’s always a good idea to have a multi-purpose easy-to-make Italian vinaigrette in your repertoire, and this recipe delivers just that. This one is ready in about five minutes and uses a variety of pantry staples that create a fresh, flavorful, versatile vinaigrette that is perfect over mixed greens, pasta, or grain-based salads. It also doubles as a marinade for chicken, seafood, or vegetables. Shallots, which are a type of onion, are small—they look like a misshapen onion—and have a milder, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of garlic. They help give this vinaigrette a flavor that is more special than most bottled dressings.