This lemon olive oil dressing called ladolemono is so much more than a Greek salad dressing! This simple, bright, and tangy dressing will be your go-to for dressing salads, but you can also use it as a marinade, or as a sauce to finish anything from fish, to chicken and even grilled vegetables.

ladolemono Greek salad dressing with lemon juice and olive oil

When I think of Greek food or the most popular Greek recipes everyone loves like Greek chicken or Greek roasted potatoes, I can’t help but think of one of the fundamental flavor profiles and that is the combination of lemon juice and olive oil.

And if you ever wanted to add a touch of Greek to your favorite foods, a great place to start is by learning how to make this bright Greek salad dressing, or rather, this multipurpose lemon vinaigrette called Ladolemono!

This homemade Greek dressing recipe is one of the easiest to make, and it is much better than your average store-bought dressing. Like my easy, bright green basil vinaigrette, which comes together with barely any effort, ladolemono takes mere seconds to whip up.

Ladolemono

This basic homemade Greek dressing or sauce is made up of a few key ingredients: lemon juice and olive oil, with garlic and dried oregano, whisked together until emulsified. The basic ratio to make ladolemono is 1:3–one part lemon juice to three part excellent extra virgin olive oil. But, you can add a little bit more for flavor–I like to use a pinch of dry oregano and minced garlic. There are many uses for ladolemono as a dressing or a marinade, and I love using to finish lovely fish dishes like this whole roasted branzino recipe.

What is Greek salad dressing made of?

This dressing is made of:

  • Fresh lemon juice. I used juice of 2 large lemons or 1/4 cup of lemon juice.
  • Dry oregano. This is optional, but if you like a little more flavor, use about 2 teaspoons of dry oregano.
  • Fresh garlic. 1 garlic clove, minced, should do it. And this is also another optional ingredient to add a little punch.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper. This is to your liking, but I ended up using about 3/4 teaspoon of each
  • Extra virgin olive oil. Use a quality extra virgin olive oil as the flavor will really shine through in this dressing. Take a look at my favorite olive oils, you’ll find a good selection of quality oils with high polyphenols and low acidity levels, some with a pleasant, light and fruity finish and others more intense with a peppery finish. I’ve tried this lemon vinaigrette with different olive oils and really enjoyed it.

How to make Greek dressing from scratch?

  • Combine lemon juice with garlic and spices
    In a bowl or measuring cup, combine 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice with 1 to 2 teaspoons of dry oregano, minced garlic clove, and a good dash of kosher salt and black pepper. Whisk to combine

    ladolemono Greek dressing ingredients in measuring cup with a whisk and used lemon halves to the side
  • Add olive oil while whisking vigorously to emulsify
    While whisking, slowly drizzle the extra virgin olive oil and continue to whisk vigorously. The ladolemono dressing will emulsify and become viscous

How to use this ladolemono Greek dressing?

Like I said earlier, you can use this dressing or lemon vinaigrette in a variety of ways:

  • As a salad dressing. This is the obvious use here, and you can’t go wrong with that. I just used it on my favorite grilled chicken salad.
    You can use it on almost any green salads or maybe even Mediterranean orzo salad or Italian pasta salad in place of the typical dressing used.
    I mentioned earlier that the dressing for a traditional Greek salad is typically a splash of good olive oil and red wine vinegar. And often times, bottles of both condiments are set on the table so you can use as much oil and vinegar and you like. That said, if you want to use a couple of tablespoons of this lemon and olive oil dressing instead over your Greek salad you absolutely can!
  • As a sauce. You can drizzle ladolemono over grilled fish, chicken, or even grilled vegetables. I don’t mind a little over my quick pan-seared salmon or trout, for example.
  • As a marinade. Earlier, I shared a yogurt based chicken marinade, and this lemon dressing can work very similarly. In fact, it’s the marinade I use for Greek sheet-pan chicken! When using a lemon-based marinade for chicken though, I typically allow no more than 2 hours of marinating in the fridge.

Make ahead & Storage

Make sure to store this homemade Greek salad dressing in the fridge in a tight-lid mason jar for up to 2 weeks (I try to use mine within 1 week). As it sits in the fridge, the olive oil and lemon will separate, which is expected. Just give the dressing a gentle shake or whisk before using.

Other Greek recipes to try:

Hungry for more? Browse our Greek recipes collection, Salad recipes collection, or Top Mediterranean diet recipes.

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4.88 from 162 votes

Ladolemono Greek Salad Dressing Recipe

Suzy Karadsheh of The Mediterranean Dish. In the kitchenSuzy Karadsheh
ladolemono Greek salad dressing with lemon juice and olive oil
You'll love this versatile Greek lemon and olive oil dressing. You can use it as a Greek salad dressing on your favorite salad, as a marinade for chicken or fish, or as a bright finishing sauce to drizzle on things from grilled vegetables to kabobs and more!
Prep – 10 minutes
Total – 10 minutes
Cuisine:
Greek
Serves – 16 tablespoons
Course:
Condiment

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, juice of 2 large lemons
  • 1 to 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 large garlic clove minced
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Put the lemon juice, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • While you are whisking vigorously, slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil.

Video

Notes

  • Storage: Store your ladolemono Greek dressing in a tight-lid glass jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (I try to use mine within 1 week). The oil will separate from the lemon as it sits in the fridge, give it a gentle shake before using on your salads, grilled meats, fish etc. 
  • Visit our online shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients including extra virgin olive oils and spices. 

Nutrition

Calories: 91.4kcalCarbohydrates: 0.5gProtein: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 1.4gSodium: 109.4mgPotassium: 9.1mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 5.5IUVitamin C: 1.8mgCalcium: 5.4mgIron: 0.2mg
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I’m Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I’m all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you’re here…
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4.88 from 162 votes (105 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Erin M says:

    5 stars
    thank you for the recipe, I absolutely love it! mine turned out a bit darker than the picture but it is still delicious. I just decided it’s time to start making my own dressings, so happy I found this one! 🙂 thank you again!

  2. Texas Sage says:

    5 stars
    I love, love, love this sauce/dressing. I almost never leave reviews but it would be unfair not to leave one for this amazing dressing. I tried it first on the sheet-pan chicken recipe – which was off-the-chain delicious. I am using it next on the whole branzino recipe. This stuff is so good I make up opportunities to use it. I could drink it with a spoon. (and have done. 🙂

  3. Barbara says:

    2 stars
    Way too much salt. I had to pour off half and reconstitute with more lemon and oil. Added a little honey to cut the salt. Still quite salty. Not sure I’ll try it again.

    1. Dan says:

      You must not have used KOSHER salt. This recipe is not salty at all.

  4. Corinne says:

    5 stars
    LOVE this dressing! Rave reviews from my guests.

    1. TMD Team says:

      Yay! Thanks so much, Corinne!

  5. Jessica Waggoner says:

    5 stars
    Thank you so much. I have an obsession with this Greek orzo salad. It is delicious and light. Problem was finding the right Greek dressing so many call for red wine vinegar which drowns out the other flavors. This was exactly what it needed.

    1. Devin Fuller says:

      Hi Jessica, Devin here from the Mediterranean Dish team. So happy to hear you found a new go-to dressing! We love swapping this one in all the time, as a chicken marinade, to dress Greek Salad, on our Mediterranean Orzo Salad–it really is an all-purpose hit! Hope you find a million more ways to use it too 🙂

  6. Carolyn says:

    5 stars
    Thank you ever so much I have MS and love knowing more about Mediterranean diet!!

  7. JoAnn says:

    5 stars
    So simple to make and so delicious! My go to lunch is a tossed salad topped with Greek olives, feta, and 1/2 cup of farro and this dressing! Makes my taste buds SING!!!

    1. TMD Team says:

      Thanks so much, JoAnn!

  8. Mary Ellen Roussin says:

    I made this Greek Salad dressing recipe. and my friends wanted the recipe

    1. TMD Team says:

      Wonderful! Thanks, Mary Ellen!

  9. Char says:

    This recipe is great!!!! I watch my salt intake so I reduce the salt by 1 tsp and it was perfect!!!!

  10. Lillie Clark says:

    5 stars
    Excellent and Delicious 😋

  11. Hannah says:

    Lovely dressing but imo it makes far too much, I could have used the x1 for 4 people easily.

  12. Cathy Keller says:

    For salad dressing I find it much easier to emulsify the EVOO into the other ingredients using an immersion blender. Just the way I learned, but it is an option for those of us not as skilled whisking while pouring.
    And, I LOVE your recipes!!!!

    1. TMD Team says:

      Thanks so much for sharing that tip, Cathy!

  13. Joanne says:

    5 stars
    An amazing and flavorful sauce! Thank you for sharing this recipe. 😄

  14. Cherese says:

    5 stars
    Thank-you so much for sharing. It was excellent. I used it on a Chopped salad with rotisserie chicken, Kalamata olives, red onions, English cucumbers, Roma tomatoes, hearts of romaine and crumbled feta. It was a huge hit at our fellowship lunch today.

  15. Karen says:

    1 star
    Taste like olive oil and water.
    0 stars

    1. Kate says:

      5 stars
      Your taste buds must be dead.
      So good 😊

    2. Joanne says:

      5 stars
      You must have forgotten the garlic, salt and lemons. It’s full of flavor if you have the right ingredients.

  16. Danielle says:

    5 stars
    Delicious! Its light but full of flavor! I only had minced garlic on hand. I only used 1/2 cup oil. Perfect! Thank you so much for sharing not only this recipe, but all of them