Watch step-by-step recipe video

Want to thin your salad dressing?

Use some water to thin out your salad dressing to your desired consistency. 1-2 tablespoons should be plenty to provide a good consistency with a balanced flavor that isn’t too watered down.

How to store your homemade salad dressing

As this salad dressing uses fresh ingredients and doesn’t use preservatives or a lot of salt, it won’t keep as long as store-bought salad dressings. This recipe should ideally be made just before you serve and any leftover dressing can be put into a sealable jar or air-tight container and refrigerated for up to 6 days. 

Best jars for storage

A small 6oz (200ml) jar is ideal for the quantity this recipe makes, which is roughly 1 cup. This will be plenty for drizzling onto a few salads or dishes for 1-2 people. 

Jar selection

Any jar will do, as long as it has a sealable lid and is airtight. Old pickle jars are great, as are (smaller) mustard or jam jars. Just wash them thoroughly in a dishwasher and allow them to dry before use. It’s always a good idea to check your jars for any cracks or imperfections before use too. 

Labelling

Always label any homemade sauces or salad dressings. This is especially important if you’re freezing any homemade foods.

Information to include on the label:

• Name of sauce or dressing
• Date made
• Estimated expiry
• Spice notes or any other important info

Serving suggestions:

This salad dressing can be used as a thin dressing for salads or can be prepared thicker making it ideal as a tasty and healthy dipping sauce. Here are just a few serving suggestions for healthy yogurt salad dressing:

• A quick and easy dressing for Mediterranean rice bowls or salad bowls 
• Drizzled over roasted fish (salmon, trout, or any white fish)
• As a fresh and healthy pasta sauce
• Drizzled over roasted veg

Best salad ingredients to use

If you want to build your own salad to go with this dressing, pretty much anything works. If you’re after a simple side salad, then consider including leafy greens (lettuce, baby spinach, rocket), tomatoes, onion, red bell peppers (capsicums), and cucumber. These are all super typical in a Mediterranean style salad, and it really depends on your taste and any dietary requirements.

If you want to bulk a salad up to make it a satisfying main meal, then add some protein-rich foods like grilled chicken, tinned fish, chickpeas, boiled eggs, beans, cheese, or crispy tofu. Seeds are another beautiful way to keep you fuller for longer, and add some crunch for layered texture.

Nutritional facts

Based on a 15ml (½ fl oz) serving:

• Calories: 86
• Protein: 0.2 grams
• Fat: 9.5 grams
• Saturated fat: 1.3 grams
• Carbohydrates: 1.1 grams
• Fiber: 0.2 grams
• Sugar: 1 gram 

Even though olive oil is high in calories, it contains good fats, and is low in saturated fat and has no cholesterol, unlike butter. Olive oil is very nutritious and a number of studies have shown that it can help prevent certain diseases, and as part of a healthy Mediterranean Diet can help with weight loss.

Ingredient substitutions

This salad dressing recipe is used all over the Mediterranean with a wide number of variations from one region to the next. This recipe is very close to a classic Greek salad dressing, although you’ll also find it in Italy, France, and Turkey. The red wine vinegar can be substituted with apple cider vinegar, and you can use wholegrain mustard instead of Dijon, if you prefer.

If you want to try another Mediterranean classic, check out this 30-second lemon vinaigrette. It also includes honey, which gives it a lovely sweet and savory blend.

Cooking Tips and FAQs

What is the healthiest dressing for a salad?

Any salad dressing that uses fresh natural ingredients is considered a healthy option. 

Is this Mediterranean salad dressing healthy?

This dressing is quite healthy and has very little salt or saturated fat. The fats in extra virgin olive oil are considered ‘good fats’ and are very healthy.

How long does homemade salad dressing last?

This homemade dressing lassts up to 6 days when stored in the fridge in an airtight container or sealable jar.

More Mediterranean Recipes

• Mediterranean seafood stew (zarzuela de mariscos) – beautiful flavors from the Mediterranean coast in the Catalonia region of Spain that includes fish and seafood.
• Mediterranean baked sweet potatoes – delicious, healthy, and easy to make, this vegetarian recipe can be made vegan by adapting the sauce to be yogurt-free or using a vegan natural yogurt replacement.
• Mediterranean tomato salad with Manchego and pesto – with a combination of gorgeous Mediterranean flavors and ingredients like a homemade basil pesto, this tomato salad can be a main or side salad.
• Romesco de peix (Catalan fish stew) – this is a beautiful oven-baked fish dish drenched in a deliciously healthy homemade romesco sauce.
• Grilled Mediterranean chicken breasts – this recipe is so simple but flavorful as you marinate the chicken breasts in Mediterranean herbs and spices before cooking and adding to your favorite side.
• Baked Mediterranean chicken thighs – this recipe also boasts plenty of herbs and spices, and is ready in 45 minutes. Best of all you just add all the ingredients to one pan, mix it all up, then bake. A great option to serve with a side salad and this Mediterranean salad dressing.