Zesty Ina Garten Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

Ina Garten’s Greek salad dressing transforms ordinary ingredients into a Mediterranean flavor sensation that dances across your palate.

Her signature blend captures the essence of rustic, sun-drenched cuisine with remarkable simplicity.

Robust herbs and tangy vinegar create a harmonious symphony of taste that elevates any fresh vegetable medley.

Whisking together classic Mediterranean components requires minimal effort but delivers maximum culinary impact.

Bright, zesty notes emerge from carefully balanced proportions of aromatic ingredients.

Versatile and quick to prepare, this dressing brings restaurant-quality excitement to home cooking.

Why Ina’s Greek Salad Dressing Is So Popular

• Craft a Flavor Explosion: This dressing transforms simple ingredients into a vibrant, zesty Mediterranean masterpiece that bursts with authentic Greek taste sensations.
• Master Easy Restaurant-Quality Techniques: Creating this vinaigrette requires just a whisk and a few minutes, allowing home cooks to effortlessly produce a professional-level dressing with minimal culinary skills.
• Customize Your Culinary Canvas: The versatile dressing works brilliantly on salads, as a marinade for grilled meats, or a delicious dip, making it a multipurpose kitchen superstar that saves time and adds incredible flavor to countless dishes.
• Embrace Healthy Mediterranean Goodness: Packed with heart-healthy olive oil, antioxidant-rich garlic, and aromatic herbs, this dressing delivers nutrition and robust flavors in every single delectable drop.

Everything You’ll Need for This Dressing

• Garlic: Adds sharp, pungent flavor and aromatic depth to the vinaigrette.
• Dried Oregano: Classic Greek herb that provides authentic Mediterranean taste.
• Dijon Mustard: Helps emulsify the dressing and adds tangy, smooth complexity.

• Red Wine Vinegar: Provides bright, acidic balance to the rich olive oil.
• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance overall flavor profile.

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Rich, smooth base that creates creamy dressing texture.
• Feta Cheese: Authentic Greek cheese that adds creamy, salty Mediterranean character.
• Kalamata Olives: Traditional Greek olive that brings briny, intense flavor to the salad.

How to Whisk Up Greek Dressing in Minutes

Step 1: Gather Your Flavor Powerhouses

• Minced fresh garlic
• Dried oregano
• Dijon mustard
• Red wine vinegar
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil

Grab a small mixing bowl and a whisk to get started.

Step 2: Create Magical Dressing Harmony

Combine garlic, oregano, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in the bowl. Whisk these ingredients together until they’re well blended. Now comes the fun part – slowly drizzle the olive oil while continuously whisking. This technique creates a smooth, creamy emulsion that coats your salad perfectly.

Step 3: Dress and Toss with Flair

Pour the vibrant vinaigrette over your favorite chopped vegetables. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and scatter kalamata olives on top. Gently toss everything together, ensuring each vegetable gets a delicious coating of the dressing. The result? A Mediterranean-inspired salad that will transport your taste buds to the sunny shores of Greece.

Pro Tip: Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to mingle and develop a deeper, more complex taste.

Top Tips for a Tangy, Balanced Blend

• Chill Veggies for Crunch: Cold ingredients keep your salad crisp and provide a delightful temperature contrast when served.
• Balance Dressing Intensity: Taste the vinaigrette before adding to the salad, adjusting olive oil and red wine vinegar ratios to match your flavor preference.
• Select Quality Olive Oil: Use extra virgin olive oil for a rich, authentic Mediterranean taste that elevates the entire salad's profile.
• Prep Herbs Fresh: Chop herbs like oregano just before mixing to release maximum aromatic oils and ensure vibrant flavor throughout the salad.
• Let Flavors Marry: Allow the dressed salad to sit for 10-15 minutes at room temperature so ingredients can blend and develop a deeper, more complex taste.

How to Store Homemade Greek Dressing

• Refrigeration Method: Transfer dressing to a sealed glass mason jar with tight-fitting lid. Shake well before each use to reincorporate separated ingredients. Glass containers preserve flavor better than plastic and prevent potential chemical leaching.
• Separation Prevention Method: Allow dressing to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Whisk or vigorously shake to recombine olive oil and vinegar, restoring original smooth consistency. This technique helps maintain emulsion and prevents ingredient separation.
• Longevity Extension Method: Add fresh herbs just before serving instead of storing with entire batch. Chop herbs like oregano and parsley right before use to maintain maximum flavor and prevent wilting. Storing herbs separately ensures crisp texture and prevents potential bitterness from extended contact with acidic ingredients.

Tasty Variations to Add a Twist

• Mediterranean Herb Boost: Enhance the dressing by adding fresh chopped basil and thyme to complement the existing oregano, creating a more complex herbal profile.
• Citrus Zinger: Incorporate fresh lemon zest and a splash of orange juice to brighten the dressing, adding a tangy and refreshing dimension to the classic Greek vinaigrette.
• Spicy Greek Kick: Mix in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a small amount of harissa paste to give the dressing a subtle heat that complements the rich feta and olives.
• Creamy Greek Fusion: Blend in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt to create a smoother, more luxurious texture while maintaining the authentic Mediterranean flavor profile.

Final Thoughts on Greek Salad Dressing

Mediterranean sunshine sparkles through Ina Garten’s signature salad dressing, blending robust garlic notes with tangy vinegar and herbaceous oregano.

Classic Greek flavors dance across crisp vegetable landscapes, creating instant culinary magic.

Robust mustard provides unexpected depth and complexity to this simple yet elegant vinaigrette.

Olive oil’s silky embrace transforms humble ingredients into restaurant-worthy masterpieces.

Feta cheese and kalamata olives elevate each refreshing bite with Mediterranean authenticity.

Culinary adventurers, this recipe promises pure deliciousness – share your colorful dish, spark conversation, and inspire fellow kitchen explorers with your gastronomic prowess.

Ina Garten Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

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4.8 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Greek salad dressing delivers Mediterranean magic with bold garlic and tangy red wine vinegar. Whisked together in minutes, this zesty blend elevates simple salads into restaurant-worthy creations you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• None

Herbs and Spices:

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

Liquids and Oils:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) red wine vinegar
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) olive oil

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Instructions

1. Combine minced garlic, dried oregano, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a compact mixing vessel.
2. Gradually stream extra-virgin olive oil into the mixture, whisking continuously to create a smooth, well-integrated vinaigrette with a silky emulsion.
3. Transfer prepared vegetables to a large serving bowl, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
4. Drizzle the freshly crafted vinaigrette over the vegetable medley, coating each piece with the aromatic dressing.
5. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and halved Kalamata olives across the salad’s surface.
6. Gently fold the ingredients together using a soft turning motion, ensuring the vinaigrette, cheese, and olives are delicately incorporated without crushing the vegetables.
7. Allow the salad to rest for 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature, permitting the flavors to meld and intensify before serving.

Notes

• Experiment with seasonal produce for varied textures and vibrant colors in your summer salad.
• Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure consistent flavor distribution and elegant presentation.
• Prepare vinaigrette at least 30 minutes before serving to allow ingredients to meld and develop deeper taste profiles.
• Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator, consuming within 24 hours for optimal freshness.
• Consider adding protein like grilled chicken or chickpeas to transform this side dish into a complete meal.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Dinner
• Method: Blending
• Cuisine: Greek

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 156 kcal
• Sugar: 0 g
• Sodium: 232 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 1 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg