This simple Mediterranean Dressing is my favorite salad dressing and has been my go-to recipe for years. It's zesty, herbal, slightly sweet and ready in literally 3 minutes. You will never go wrong with this flavor combo and the basic formula can be tweaked in infinite different ways to make it your own. This a delicious vinaigrette to serve with your fresh salads, and it's one of my favorite ways to help people fall in love with vegetables!
My Grandma's Homemade Vinaigrette
My love for salad runs deep. Even as a child I loved salad. I have fond memories of devouring a massive antipasto, slathered in a puckery, vinegary Italian dressing, while watching reruns of The Addams Family.
One of my favorite parts of any family gathering was the giant salads my Grandmother Evelyn made to serve alongside all the meats and pastas.
Her signature chop salad was a true beauty. She lovingly chopped a bevy of colorful veggies in small pieces to top the lettuce. Her salad was my first "eat the rainbow" memory.
It had tons of fresh veggies - colorful bell peppers, crunchy cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and sometimes olives, all chopped in flawless, uniform sizes.
She always made a punchy vinaigrette with oil and vinegar to go with it, which became the basis for my own homemade dressing later on.
It's the inspiration for this Mediterranean dressing recipe, and I still think it is the most delicious dressing, even after all these years.
Why you’ll love this homemade salad dressing
- Made with a handful of simple ingredients
- Relies on dried herbs and seasonings, so it takes just moments to prepare
- Completely customizable with different oils, vinegars, seasonings, and sweeteners
- Inspired by a family favorite recipe my Grandmother Evelyn used to make
- Minimally processed and made with individual ingredients (unlike store-bought salad dressings)
- Inexpensive alternative to premade dressings
- Tastes similar to homemade Greek salad dressing and pairs great with similar flavors (olives, cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, and more)
Helpful Tip
For more info on constructing your salads that wake up your palate and make people fall in love with vegetables, read my Rainbow Salad Primer.
Mediterranean Vinaigrette Ingredients
This dressing tastes similar to an Italian or Greek salad dressing. It's slightly sweet and tangy with layers of herby notes and a little heat. It's an easy choice for any type of salad, but particularly salads with Greek, Italian, or Mediterranean flavor profiles.
- Extra virgin olive oil: This is a key ingredient and the ideal base for this recipe. Olive oil adds a little extra flavor to balance out the other ingredients and pairs perfectly with the Mediterranean herbs and flavors.
- White vinegar: This is one of the sharpest types of vinegars, but it adds a bright tanginess that really wakes up any salad. Don't worry - we'll mellow it out with a little sweetness to keep it from being too bright.
- Maple syrup: For just enough sweetness and a little extra flavor.
- Dried Italian seasonings: Fresh herbs are great, but how many of us have them on hand all the time? Dried herbs make this recipe extremely quick and easy to make and still have great flavor. Feel free to use different Mediterranean herb blends to make it your own.
- Sea salt & black pepper: This is key to bring out all those flavors.
- Crushed red pepper flakes: For a little heat.
- Black pepper
How to Make Your Own Mediterranean Salad Dressing
If you've never made homemade dressings before, you should know that it is extremely easy. Just mix everything together and go! It can help to let the dressing rest for about 30 minutes to allow the dried herbs to wake up, but that's totally optional.
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl.
- Whisk until slightly emulsified. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for Making the Best Mediterranean Vinaigrette
- If you want to make a large batch of my vinaigrette just remember the ratio of vinegar to oil is 2:1 (2 parts oil to 1 part vinegar). Classically the ratio is 3:1 oil to vinegar but I prefer a more punchy and less oily vinaigrette.
- You may improvise with wonderful results. Sub in red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, different herbs and even infused oil to the recipe.
- For a stronger, more pungent flavor, add fresh garlic or dried garlic powder. If you add any fresh ingredients, be sure to store the container in the fridge and use within 5-7 days.
- If you do not like spicy, omit the red chili flakes.
- This dressing can be drizzled or tossed into the salad. It also makes a great marinade for roasting veggies or making a nice tangy pasta salad.
- Use a mason jar. Add your ingredients to a mason jar, seal and give it a good shake, and you don't want to wash a bowl and a whisk.
FAQs
Yes, you can if you'd like. Although many vinaigrettes add mustard for flavor, it's often used as an emulsifier. It helps bind the oil and vinegar together and keep them from separating. It's not necessary, but it can be helpful if you want the dressing to stay together nicely. Start with a small amount (½ - 1 tsp), then add more to taste if desired.
It depends on the ingredients. This Mediterranean dressing contains maple syrup, which generally needs to be refrigerated to stay fresh. If you skip that or use a shelf-stable sweetener, it can be stored in an airtight container with a tight-fitting lid at room temperature. For the best flavor, use within a week or two.
I'm partial to extra-virgin olive oil. It's a classic for a reason with its buttery, slightly grassy flavor and it's fun to try different varietals to see how different one ingredient can really be. But, you can use any type of liquid oil, like avocado or sunflower oil, or even substitute some of the regular oil with an infused oil or a nut oil (like hazelnut or walnut) for an extra layer of flavor. There are endless options and the only "right" one is whichever one you like the most.
Other Delicious Mediterranean Recipes
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Tangy Mediterranean Dressing with Dried Herbs
Equipment
- whisk
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp maple syrup you may sub another sweetener
- 1 tsp dry Italian spices
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pinch black pepper
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl.
- Whisk until slightly emulsified. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- If you want to make a large batch of my vinaigrette just remember the ratio of vinegar to oil is 2:1 (2 parts oil to 1 part vinegar). Classically the ratio is 3:1 oil to vinegar but I prefer a more punchy and less oily vinaigrette.
- You may improvise with wonderful results. Sub in red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, different herbs and even infused oil to the recipe.
- For a stronger, more pungent flavor, add fresh garlic or dried garlic powder. If you add any fresh ingredients, be sure to store the container in the fridge and use within 5-7 days.
- If you do not like spicy, omit the red chili flakes.
- This dressing can be drizzled or tossed into the salad. It also makes a great marinade for roasting veggies or for making a nice tangy pasta salad.
- Use a mason jar. Add your ingredients to a mason jar, seal and give it a good shake, and you don't want to wash a bowl and a whisk.
Nutrition
A salad tribute
My Grandmother Evelyn was the ultimate Queen of the castle. Even in those days, when women usually took the back seat, she wore the pants in the family.
Both strict and kind, she was a force to be reckoned with. She has been gone many years now. But the memory of her strong character and mischievous, crinkly eyed grin stays with me.
And of course, I think of her every time I make a rainbow chop salad and this tangy vinaigrette.
I will always treasure those memories. Memories of Sunday morning visits with my Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. I remember big family gatherings. Giant buffets packed with delicious foods like meatballs and baked pastas and giant rainbow salads. Everyone would be chattering and laughing, in a line to fill our plates, bellies and hearts.
Once in a comic blunder for the ages, I shook a capless bottle and bathed my small cousin Allie in dressing. I will never live that down!
If you're lucky, this vinaigrette will be part of family memories you remember for years and years, too. I hope you enjoy it!
Tiffany
Oh how I love a flavorful, light dressing like this one! Delicious!
Tiffany
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Sara Tercero
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