Authentic Greek Salad Dressing Recipe (Easy & Homemade)
Make authentic Greek salad dressing at home using this easy recipe. This homemade dressing includes olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, mustard and salt and pepper. It is perfect for salads, drizzled over vegetables and marinades.
Growing up in a Greek family, salads were always on the table, especially when tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables were abundant in the summer. And when it comes to dressing them, simple ingredients are usually best.
This easy Greek salad dressing is made with good olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, garlic and Greek oregano, with a little mustard to help everything emulsify. It takes only 5 minutes to prepare and is delicious on salads, but we also love it drizzled over vegetables and potatoes or used as a simple marinade.
What is traditional Greek salad dressing?
Greek salad dressing is typically based on a few simple Mediterranean ingredients, with good-quality olive oil at the heart of it. In Greece, salads are often dressed very simply with olive oil, oregano and some acidity from vinegar or lemon juice. A traditional horiatiki, or Greek village salad, may be even simpler, with the juices from ripe tomatoes combining with olive oil and the other ingredients to create a delicious dressing right in the bowl.
Our Greek salad dressing builds on these familiar flavours. We combine extra virgin olive oil with red wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, garlic and Greek oregano. We also add a little mustard, which adds flavour and helps the oil and vinegar emulsify into a smooth vinaigrette.
Although we call it Greek salad dressing, don’t limit it to salads! We use this versatile dressing on grilled or roasted vegetables and potatoes, and it also makes a wonderful marinade for chicken, pork or other proteins.
Greek salad dressing ingredients
Making an authentic Greek salad dressing is easy and only requires a few basic ingredients.
Olive oil I only use Greek olive oil to make this dressing. I love the flavour and fragrance of Greek olive oil over all others!
Red wine vinegar I love the subtle flavour and acidity of red wine vinegar. It goes great in this recipe.
Lemon juice I only use fresh lemon juice – it is so much better than bottled lemon juice.
Greek oregano Dry Greek oregano cannot be compared to anything else! The aroma is so intense and the flavour is so wonderfully unique.
Garlic When I buy garlic I always try to find locally grown garlic. The flavour is so much better than garlic that comes from far away, which has potentially been bleached in order to keep it fresh longer. I avoid that garlic as much as I can.
Mustard The mustard is used to emulsify the oil, vinegar and lemon juice, blending them together into a smooth, cohesive dressing. It is not essential to a traditional Greek salad dressing. The mustard also gives a subtle tang to the dressing. I like to use Dijon mustard which has plenty of flavour without overpowering the other ingredients, but honestly, even yellow mustard will do just fine.
Salt & pepper I add these basic but essential seasonings to my salad dressing. You can add them to taste.
How to make homemade salad dressing
Easy, 5 minute prep
Making this authentic homemade Greek salad dressing is so easy! Once all the ingredients are prepared all you have to do is whisk them all together in a bowl until combined. Alternatively, combine all ingredients in a jar, cover and shake until well combined.
Tips for the best Greek salad dressing
Use the best olive oil
When a recipe has only a few ingredients, I make extra certain that they are top quality. That is why I only use the best Greek olive oil I can find. If you cannot find Greek olive oil, then a good quality extra virgin olive oil will do.
Only fresh lemon juice
Sure, you can find bottled lemon juice, and this is often easier, but it is not nearly as good as freshly squeezed lemon juice. It is worth the effort (minimal effort) to use fresh lemons.
Use dry oregano versus fresh oregano
Oregano is one herb that I almost always use dry. The flavour and fragrance is so much more intense than with fresh oregano. I also always use dry Greek oregano. I find it is superior to all others!
Balance the acidity
This authentic Greek salad dressing uses both lemon juice and vinegar for the acidity. This balance, in the proportions listed, gives you a salad dressing that is not overwhelmingly acidic, but has the perfect level of zing!
Serving ideas – more than just for salad
Of course, this authentic Greek salad dressing is amazing over all sorts of salads, but it is great for so much more! Pour it over grilled vegetables or roasted potatoes, or use it as a marinade for chicken, fish or vegetables.
Salads that would be great with Greek salad dressing
Maniatiki Salad (Potato salad with oranges and fennel)
Squash and pearl couscous salad
Greek salad dressing FAQ
How long does Greek salad dressing last?
I typically keep my homemade Greek salad dressing in the refrigerator for up to five days. Honestly though, it rarely lasts that long.
Why does my Greek salad dressing separate?
It is completely normal for homemade Greek salad dressing to separate as it sits. Oil and vinegar naturally separate over time. Simply whisk the dressing well or give the jar a good shake before serving. The Dijon mustard in our recipe also helps the ingredients emulsify and stay blended a little longer.
Can I make Greek salad dressing ahead of time?
Absolutely. In fact, making the dressing ahead gives the garlic, oregano and other ingredients time to flavour the olive oil. Prepare it as directed and store it in a covered jar or container in the refrigerator. Give it a good shake or whisk before serving.
How long does homemade Greek salad dressing last?
Store your Greek salad dressing in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. It will keep well for up to one week. The olive oil may become cloudy or thicken when chilled; this is completely normal. Let the dressing sit at room temperature for a few minutes and shake or whisk it well before using.
Can I use Greek salad dressing as a marinade?
Yes! This dressing makes a wonderful marinade, particularly for chicken or pork. The olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic and oregano add plenty of flavour. If using it as a marinade, set aside any dressing you would like to use for serving before adding raw meat.
Can I make Greek salad dressing without vinegar?
Yes. You can omit the red wine vinegar and use additional fresh lemon juice instead. The flavour will be slightly different, but you’ll still have the acidity needed to balance the olive oil. Taste the dressing and adjust the lemon juice to suit your preference.
What is the best olive oil for Greek salad dressing?
Because olive oil is the main ingredient, use a good-quality extra virgin olive oil that you enjoy the taste of. We love using Greek extra virgin olive oil, which gives the dressing a rich, fruity flavour and pairs beautifully with the lemon, vinegar and oregano.
How to store
Prepared salad dressing will keep well in the refrigerator for up to five days. Store in a jar or container with a cover.
It is normal for the olive oil and vinegar / lemon juice to separate after the dressing has been sitting for a while. That is fine, simply whisk it or shake it so that the dressing emulsifies again.
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Related recipes
If you love the fresh flavours in this Greek salad dressing, try some of our other favourite Greek salads. These simple, flavourful recipes are perfect as a side dish or as part of a larger Greek meal.
Greek salad (or Horiatiki salata) (Χωριάτικη Σαλάτα)
Maroulosalata (Greek lettuce salad) (Psilokomeni)
Greek potato salad with herbs
Maniatiki Salad (Potato salad with oranges and fennel) (Μανιάτικη σαλάτα)
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Easy Greek Salad Dressing Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Olive oil
- 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- ½ tsp Greek oregano, dry
- 1 Garlic clove finely minced
- ½ tsp Mustard Yellow or Dijon
- ¼ tsp Salt
- ⅛ tsp Pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until well combined. Alternatively you can combine all ingredients in a jar and shake well until combined.
- Serve this amazing Greek salad dressing over a variety of salads and vegetables.
No such thing as “authentic Greek salad dressing” recipe. Nobody measures and I’ve never heard of mustard on salad. : )
Okay Sophia – thanks for your opinion 😉 xoxo Helen & Billie
Cry harder. 😂😂🤡🤡
classic french salad dressing has mustard, as do many others – it not only flavors but is a natural emulsifier
I made this for my Greek husband and he really enjoyed it. Chill out lady! It’s just dressing
Thank you Marixi 🙂 We are so happy that your husband enjoyed the salad dressing, and are grateful that you took the time to comment! Hope you continue to find much to love here with us 🙂 xoxo Helen & Billie
Love it
Yay! Thanks for letting us know! Hope you find much more to love here with us 🙂 xoxo Helen & Billie