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Ina Garten has some strong feelings about what people should be able to make in the kitchen. The Barefoot Contessa host is all about making things from scratch, but there is one thing she believes everyone should be able to create with some basic ingredients. Homemade biscuits, chocolate chip cookies, and pancakes are some common staples for home cooks, but Garten thinks the real thing that everyone should learn to make is vinaigrette.

Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten
Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten | Photo by Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Ina Garten opens up about making a vinaigrette

If you have never made a vinaigrette, it may sound intimidating at first. Fortunately, making this dressing is surprisingly easy. In fact, all vinaigrette contains three basic ingredients: vinegar, seasoning, and oil. Most recipes say to use a three-to-one ratio for the oil and vinegar mixture, though this may vary depending on the source. When it comes to the seasonings, there are countless ways to spice things up.

Although making a vinaigrette is easy, you may be tempted to go to the store for all your dressing needs. In some instances, this may be the best solution, especially when it comes to more elaborate varieties. Garten, however, says it is best to just make it at home.

“It’s faster to make it than to go to the store and buy a bottle of dressing. And it’s so much better,” Garten shared.

According to Yahoo, making vinaigrette at home is also friendly to the environment. You can re-use an old vinaigrette bottle and save any extra ingredients for other uses around the kitchen. You can also jazz vinaigrette up by adding some interesting elements.

If you want a creamier vinaigrette, for example, Garten says to add a raw egg yolk and a splash of Dijon mustard. You can also infuse another emulsifying agent into the dressing if you want a smoother texture. However you make it, vinaigrette is something you can experiment with until you find the perfect mixture.

Inside Garten’s best recipes

In addition to starring in her own show, Barefoot Contessa, Garten has published a number of different cookbooks over the years. While fans can learn a lot from her books and show, Garten also shares a lot of cooking tips on social media.

Some of her best tips include using a towel when chopping up corn (which helps prevent a mess), chilling wine in ice water (instead of just a bucket of ice), starting from the bottom when cutting cauliflower, and serving guests pre-made appetizers to cut down on prep time.

Garten, of course, also tells her followers how to make the perfect vinaigrette. When adding the vinaigrette to the salad, Garten says to pour some dressing in an empty bowl, then add the greens. Once it is time to eat, toss the salad until the vinaigrette is evenly distributed and enjoy. Garten may be self-taught when it comes to cooking, but she definitely knows a lot of tips and tricks in the kitchen.

Fans can get more tips from Garten by following her on Instagram, which is where she offers most of her cooking advice.

Ina Garten prepares for a new season of ‘Barefoot Contessa’

Vinaigrette aside, Garten is currently getting ready for the premiere of the new season of Barefoot Contessa. Food Network has been very tight-lipped about the upcoming season, so there is still a lot of mystery about what’s on the menu. We can, however, expect plenty of holiday dishes and a few celebrity appearances.

If Emily Blunt and Manuel Miranda stopped by last season, there is no telling who will get involved in the action this year. As is par for the course, we can also anticipate plenty of braises and roasted vegetable recipes, which are perfect for the fall season.

The upcoming season of Barefoot Contessa marks the 17th year for Ina Garten on Food Network, an impressive feat for any show. While the series has been around for close to two decades, Garten has maintained the original charm the show debuted with back in 2002. There is no telling what is ahead this season, but we are definitely excited to see what Garten has cooked up.

The new season of Barefoot Contessa is scheduled to premiere on October 27 on Food Network.

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