Experience the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with this homemade Greek salad dressing. Perfectly balanced with tangy red wine vinegar, zesty lemon juice, and a hint of honey, this dressing brings a delightful zest to any salad. The addition of feta cheese enhances the taste, making it irresistibly delicious.
If some ingredients are not commonly found in your home, you might need to pick up red wine vinegar and dijon mustard at the supermarket. These ingredients are essential for creating the signature tangy flavor of Greek salad dressing. Make sure to also grab a good quality olive oil to ensure the best taste.
Ingredients for Greek Salad Dressing
Red wine vinegar: Provides a tangy base and depth of flavor.
Lemon juice: Adds a fresh, zesty punch.
Dijon mustard: Gives a slight spiciness and emulsifies the dressing.
Honey: Balances the acidity with a touch of sweetness.
Seasoned salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
Garlic powder: Adds a subtle garlic flavor.
Dried oregano: Infuses the dressing with a classic Mediterranean herb taste.
Dried basil: Complements the oregano and adds aromatic notes.
Olive oil: The essential base for any good dressing, providing richness and smooth texture.
Feta cheese: Adds creaminess and a tangy kick.
Black pepper: A final touch of seasoning for balanced heat.
One reader, Abram Dangelo says:
This Greek salad dressing is fantastic! The blend of red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and feta creates a tangy, flavorful dressing that elevates any salad. Easy to make and absolutely delicious.
Key Techniques for Crafting the Perfect Dressing
How to combine ingredients: Gather all the ingredients except the olive oil and mix them together in a bowl. How to blend with a hand mixer: Use a blender or hand mixer on low speed while slowly drizzling in the olive oil to emulsify the dressing. How to blend feta cheese: Add the feta cheese to the mixture and blend until it is fully incorporated. How to refrigerate: Place the dressing in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
How To Make Greek Salad Dressing
This greek salad dressing recipe will be your all-purpose dressing, glaze, or marinade for the whole year-round. It’s a great pair over any salad or chips.
Serves:
Ingredients
- ¼cupred wine vinegar
- 2tbsplemon juice,fresh
- 2tspdijon mustard
- 1tsphoney
- ¼tspseasoned salt
- ¼tspgarlic powder
- ½tspdried oregano
- ½tspdried basil
- ⅔cupolive oil
- ½ozfeta cheese,optional
- black pepper,to taste
Instructions
-
Combine all ingredients except olive oil.
-
In a blender or with a hand mixer, mix on low speed while slowly drizzling oil in.
-
Once oil is mixed in, add feta and blend until mixed in. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 2043.96kcal
- Fat: 221.24g
- Saturated Fat: 33.10g
- Trans Fat: 0.00g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 158.93g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 23.01g
- Carbohydrates: 16.26g
- Fiber: 1.69g
- Sugar: 10.94g
- Protein: 4.32g
- Cholesterol: 18.92mg
- Sodium: 934.56mg
- Calcium: 155.55mg
- Potassium: 179.03mg
- Iron: 3.01mg
- Vitamin A: 28.49µg
- Vitamin C: 18.29mg
Expert Tip for Mastering Greek Salad Dressing
To ensure a smooth and well-emulsified Greek salad dressing, make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before starting. This helps the olive oil blend more easily with the red wine vinegar and lemon juice, creating a more cohesive mixture.
Time-Saving Tips for Making Greek Salad Dressing
Prepare ingredients in advance: Measure and set out all ingredients before starting. This minimizes prep time and ensures a smooth process.
Use a food processor: Instead of a blender or hand mixer, use a food processor to quickly combine all ingredients and achieve a smooth consistency.
Pre-crumble feta: Crumble the feta cheese ahead of time to save a step when blending.
Make a larger batch: Double the recipe and store extra dressing in the fridge for future use. It keeps well for up to a week.
Substitute Ingredients For Greek Salad Dressing Recipe
red wine vinegar - Substitute with apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar has a similar acidity and tanginess that can mimic the flavor profile of red wine vinegar.
lemon juice - Substitute with lime juice: Lime juice provides a similar acidic and citrusy flavor that can replace lemon juice effectively.
dijon mustard - Substitute with yellow mustard: Yellow mustard can provide a similar tangy and slightly spicy flavor, though it is less complex than dijon mustard.
honey - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup offers a similar sweetness and viscosity, making it a good alternative to honey.
seasoned salt - Substitute with regular salt: Regular salt can be used, though you may want to add a pinch of dried herbs or spices to mimic the seasoning.
garlic powder - Substitute with fresh garlic: Fresh garlic can provide a more intense and aromatic flavor, though you may need to adjust the quantity.
dried oregano - Substitute with fresh oregano: Fresh oregano can be used, but you will need to use about three times the amount to match the intensity of dried oregano.
dried basil - Substitute with fresh basil: Fresh basil can be used in place of dried basil, but you will need to use about three times the amount.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a similar texture and a mild flavor that can replace olive oil in dressings.
feta cheese - Substitute with goat cheese: Goat cheese has a similar tangy and creamy texture that can mimic the flavor of feta cheese.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper can provide a similar spiciness, though it has a slightly different flavor profile.
How to Beautifully Present Your Homemade Dressing
Use high-quality ingredients: Ensure that all red wine vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, honey, seasoned salt, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, olive oil, feta cheese, and black pepper are of the highest quality to enhance the flavor profile.
Emulsify the dressing properly: When combining the ingredients, make sure to drizzle the olive oil slowly while blending to create a smooth and well-emulsified dressing.
Incorporate the feta cheese: Blend the feta cheese into the dressing until it is fully integrated, giving the dressing a creamy texture and a rich, tangy flavor.
Chill before serving: Refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together and to ensure it is served at the perfect temperature.
Serve in a stylish container: Present the dressing in a sleek, clear glass bottle or a small, elegant bowl to showcase its vibrant color and texture.
Garnish with fresh herbs: Add a sprig of fresh oregano or basil on top of the dressing container for a touch of elegance and a hint of freshness.
Pair with a beautifully plated salad: Serve the dressing alongside a meticulously arranged Greek salad, featuring crisp lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, olives, and additional crumbled feta cheese for a visually stunning and delicious dish.
Essential Tools for Making Greek Salad Dressing
Blender: Used to mix the ingredients together smoothly and to emulsify the dressing by slowly drizzling in the olive oil.
Hand mixer: An alternative to the blender, this can be used to mix the ingredients and emulsify the dressing by gradually adding the olive oil.
Measuring cups: Essential for accurately measuring the red wine vinegar, olive oil, and other liquid ingredients.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure smaller quantities of ingredients like lemon juice, dijon mustard, honey, seasoned salt, garlic powder, dried oregano, and dried basil.
Mixing bowl: A bowl to combine all the ingredients before blending.
Refrigerator: Necessary for chilling the dressing for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Knife: Used to crumble the feta cheese if it is not pre-crumbled.
Cutting board: Provides a surface to crumble the feta cheese.
Spatula: Useful for scraping down the sides of the blender or mixing bowl to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
Storing and Freezing Your Homemade Greek Dressing
Store the greek salad dressing in an airtight container, such as a mason jar or a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid, to prevent air from entering and causing the dressing to spoil quickly.
Refrigerate the dressing immediately after blending to maintain its freshness and flavor. The greek salad dressing will last for up to 1 week when stored properly in the refrigerator.
If you want to extend the shelf life of your greek salad dressing, you can freeze it for later use. Pour the dressing into an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the dressing cubes to a freezer-safe bag or container.
When ready to use the frozen greek salad dressing, remove the desired number of cubes from the freezer and thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Give the thawed dressing a good shake or whisk before using it to ensure that all the ingredients are well combined.
Note: The feta cheese in the dressing may cause the texture to change slightly after freezing and thawing, but the flavor will still be delicious. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can blend the thawed dressing again before using it.
Interesting Trivia About Greek Salad Dressing
A unique aspect of this Greek salad dressing is the inclusion of feta cheese, which adds a creamy texture and rich flavor. This ingredient sets it apart from many other dressings and enhances the overall taste of the salad.
Is Making Greek Salad Dressing at Home Cost-Effective?
Creating a Greek salad dressing at home is quite cost-effective. The primary ingredients like olive oil, red wine vinegar, and feta cheese are pantry staples and can be used in multiple recipes. The cost for a household of 4 is approximately $5-$7, considering you already have some ingredients. This homemade dressing is not only economical but also healthier compared to store-bought versions. Overall Verdict: 9/10.
Is Greek Salad Dressing Healthy or Unhealthy?
This Greek salad dressing recipe has both healthy and unhealthy aspects. On the positive side, it includes:
- Olive oil, which is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants
- Lemon juice, a good source of vitamin C and flavonoids
- Dijon mustard, which contains beneficial compounds like glucosinolates
- Herbs like oregano and basil, which offer antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
However, there are some less healthy components:
- The recipe is high in fat due to the olive oil and feta cheese
- Feta cheese is also high in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure
- Honey adds sugar to the dressing, albeit in a small amount
To make this dressing healthier, consider the following suggestions:
- Reduce the amount of olive oil to lower the overall fat content
- Use a low-fat or reduced-sodium feta cheese to decrease the saturated fat and salt content
- Replace the honey with a natural, low-calorie sweetener like stevia or monk fruit extract
- Add more herbs and spices, such as thyme, rosemary, or garlic, to boost the antioxidant content and flavor without adding calories
- Include a small amount of a heart-healthy seed like chia or flax to increase the omega-3 fatty acid content
By making these adjustments, you can create a more nutritious Greek salad dressing that still delivers on taste and complements your favorite salad ingredients.
Editor's Opinion on This Delightful Greek Dressing
This Greek salad dressing recipe is well-balanced, combining tangy red wine vinegar and lemon juice with the subtle sweetness of honey. The Dijon mustard adds a slight kick, while the seasoned salt, garlic powder, oregano, and basil provide a robust flavor profile. The method of slowly drizzling in the olive oil ensures a smooth emulsion, and the addition of feta cheese gives it a creamy texture and authentic Greek touch. Refrigerating it allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Overall, it's a versatile and flavorful dressing that can elevate any salad.
Enhance Your Greek Salad Dressing Recipe with These Unique Side Dishes:
Similar Recipes to Try If You Love Greek Salad Dressing
Why trust this Greek Salad Dressing Recipe:
This Greek salad dressing recipe is a must-try because it combines the tanginess of red wine vinegar and lemon juice with the smoothness of olive oil. The addition of dijon mustard and honey creates a perfect balance of flavors, while feta cheese adds a creamy texture. Seasoned with oregano and basil, this dressing brings an authentic Mediterranean taste to your salads. Plus, it's easy to make and uses simple ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
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