9 Mediterranean Sauces You'll Want to Put on Everything

Make these low-effort Mediterranean sauce recipes to transform weeknight meals into a flavor party!

A close up of zhoug in a bowl. — Zhoug (Spiacy Cilantro Sauce) Photo Credit: Mariam Hamdy

My Mediterranean sauces for an instant flavor boost!

If there is one rule I follow in my Mediterranean kitchen, it’s this: The sauce makes the meal!

We don’t just use garlic, chilies, herbs, yogurt and tahini as garnishes; we use them to build the entire foundation of flavor. While every sauce recipe below is rooted in a specific regional tradition I love, I’ve developed them to be endlessly adaptable for your modern pantry. Whether you’re looking to boost a soup (or your chicken chili); dress up your fish dinner; or make the ultimate chicken gyro, these sauces are designed to be spooned, swirled, and dolloped with abandon.

Consider this your invitation to cook like we do: generously. Consider this your invitation to cook like we do: generously. Welcome to the flavor party!

ladolemono salad dressing in a measuring cup in front of 4 juiced lemon halves and a bottle of olive oil.

Ladolemono Sauce

To call ladolemono a salad dressing wouldn’t really capture the versatility of this garlicky Greek oregano, lemon, and olive oil sauce! Just as often, it acts as a marinade or flavor base for cooked dishes, including our ever-popular Greek sheet pan chicken, roasted branzino, and this easy shrimp broccoli skillet. Sure, put it on your salad, but don’t stop there!

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Tahini Sauce

Nutty tahini is the base for one of the most versatile condiments in the Mediterranean kitchen. Made by whisking the sesame paste with lemon juice, and garlic, it’s both rich and bright, making it ideal for drizzling over falafel or homemade chicken shawarma.

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Roasted red pepper and fire roasted tomato sauce in a blue and white bowl

Romesco Sauce

This smoky, nutty Spanish sauce is made from roasted red peppers, tomatoes, nuts, garlic, and olive oil. It’s thick, spoonable, and packed with depth, making it excellent as a dip or spread that also works well as a sauce for grilled vegetables and pizza.

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The toum recipe in a bowl on a platter with slices of orange bell pepper, tomato, radish, and cucumber along with pieces of pita bread. Next to this is a napkin.

Mediterranean Garlic Sauce (Toum)

This bold Lebanese garlic sauce delivers big garlic flavor and a creamy, fluffy texture. Despite its intensity, it’s surprisingly versatile! Spread it on sandwiches, serve it with grilled lamb or Shish Tawook, or use it as a dip for oven fries.

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Romesco Sauce

This smoky, nutty Spanish sauce is made from roasted red peppers, tomatoes, nuts, garlic, and olive oil. It’s thick and spoonable, making it excellent as a dip or spread that also works well as a sauce for grilled vegetable kabobs and pizza.

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An overhead photo of the basil vinaigrette being poured onto the unmixed summer pasta salad in a bowl. Next to this is a cloth napkin, wooden serving utensils, and bowls of salt and urfa biber.

Basil Pesto

Fragrant basil pesto brings together fresh herbs, garlic, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, and cheese into a sauce that tastes like summer. While it’s famously paired with pasta or gnocchi, pesto is also amazing with chicken, chickpeas, and salmon, swirled into pasta salad or soup, or spread on sandwiches. Its concentrated basil flavor makes it an instant upgrade for countless dishes.

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Tzatziki cucumber yogurt sauce in a bowl with a side of sliced vegetables

Tzatziki Sauce

Cool, creamy, and bright with garlic and dill, tzatziki is a classic Greek yogurt-based cucumber sauce. It’s perfect over grilled chicken souvlaki or on a lamb burger as it is swiped onto wraps, used as a vegetable dip, or dolloped onto roasted potatoes. Also try its Persian cousin, Mast O’Khiar, with dried mint and lime! Our vegan tzatziki has similar flavors, but with a cashew base.

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Harissa Sauce

A North African hot sauce made with dried chiles and spices, harissa can be fiery or mild depending on the type of chilies used to make it. We love it paired with honey as a glaze for grilled chicken and as the spicy base for our Mediterranean Bloody Mary. It adds a huge flavor boost to a simple whipped ricotta dip, and mixed with yogurt, it’s perfect spicy and creamy sauce for salmon bites. If you don’t want to make it you can always pick up a jar from our shop.

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a spoon dipped into feta dressing to show its creaminess.

Creamy Feta Dressing

This creamy blend of feta, Greek yogurt, lemon, and olive oil makes a smooth, tangy sauce that instantly elevates salads, roasted vegetables, and grilled fish. Think of it as a lighter, drizzle-able version of our Whipped Feta Dip with endless versatility. One favorite application? These Mediterranean Chicken Nachos!

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A close up of zhoug in a jar with a spoon.

Zhoug (Spicy Cilantro Sauce)

Bright, spicy, and aromatic, zhoug wakes up anything it touches! This cilantro and green chili sauce keeps well in the fridge, too, so you can make a batch anytime you wind up with leftover cilantro on hand. Use it to top tender red snapper fillets or sweet and smoky grilled carrots. It’s also the base of one of our favorite vegetarian party dips.

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