Mediterranean Lemon salad or vegetable dressing and marinade, with its bright lemony, olive oil and fresh herb flavor, is fast and easy to make.
Lemons In My Mediterranean Salad Dressing
Growing up with a Syrian mom who cooked everything from scratch, I never knew store bought salad dressing was a ‘thing’.
Lemons are a dominate addition to most Mediterranean cooking; in the vegetables we prepare, the meat or fish marinades we make, and in many of our desserts.
They are an added bonus of nutrients to an already heart healthy cuisine.
The zingy, bright flavor of a lemon in nearly all dishes, whether sweet or savory, makes food flavors pop.
Because of this phenomenon, we used lemons on everything and in everything, and in fact, to this day, yellow is my favorite color!
Lemon Vegetable Vinaigrette Recipe
A homemade salad dressing is a simple recipe, and once you’ve made this recipe, you will never buy store-bought dressings again, I know I haven’t!
This lemon vinaigrette emulsification is what the basis for many salad dressing, sauces or marinades are made from.
With the addition of a garlic clove (no garlic powder please, we want natural flavors over our fresh spring greens), and some chopped herbs, the possibilities are endless for its uses.Â
Oh, and don’t forget to use fresh lemon juice and not lemon juice concentrate, the flavors just won’t be the same.
Homemade Dressings Make The Perfect Marinades As Well
Salad dressing is not just for salads! If you’re like me, what you put on your favorite salad might depend on your mood or (honestly), what’s in your fridge.
A Mediterranean lemon dressing will make the perfect chicken marinade, and then the next day, any leftovers from that chicken meal, take on a new face in a layered salad with chicken on top.
Sometimes it’s just veggies, while other times it’s the culmination of meats and cheeses, leftovers and often a few boiled eggs.
A favorite salad of mine will often incorporate fresh fruit, and so this lemony salad dressing is the perfect addition for all the above, fresh fruit included.
Lemon Salad Dressing For Mediterranean Vegetables and Marinades
Who doesn’t marinade their meat and seafood before cooking, or brush a flavor concoction across veggies before grilling?
Nearly anything that goes on my grill, like my Grilled Shrimp or Roasted Summer Veggies, get brushed with Mediterranean salad dressing while cooking.
This lemon salad dressing is the perfect flavor enhancer for all meats and seafood, as well as your fresh garden vegetables.
I also use it in the mixture for my burgers, no matter lamb, beef or turkey.
A little splash of olive oil and a zing of lemon, herbs, garlic and salt makes all meat and seafood dishes come alive with flavor!Â
Lemon Dressing For Veggies
Since I was a kid, we always used this lemon dressing on our green beans, spinach or other grilled veggies such as zucchini and squash.
When I make spanakopita, I always drizzle a little of my lemon dressing in the spinach, egg and feta mixture.
Definitely a dressing I drizzle over my Heirloom Lemon Cucumber Salad, or Tzatziki!
Herbs In My Salad Dressing and Marinades
I love to grow herbs, it doesn’t matter if it’s a huge outdoor garden or a few windowsill pots in the dead of winter.
Every herb I’ve chopped and added to this lemon salad dressing has become my favorite blend, so by all means add your favorite herbs.
Fortunately when winter comes, I have a small greenhouse on my property that allows me to grow the herbs that love the cooler whether, therefore enhancing my winter marinades as well.
These herbs will go into my lemon dressing all winter and in so many dishes to brighten the flavors of winter.
The simple recipe of an easy to remember ratio of one part lemon juice to equal parts oil (preferably a good olive oil), is sure to make this your favorite dressing or marinade.
How To Make Mason Jar Lemon Salad Dressing
Mason jars are a great place to mix a dressing or marinade, one of my favorite items in my kitchen.
Once my tangy dressing has been made and stored in the fridge, I need only to give a good shake at mealtime to pour over my salad or veggies.
Once the fresh lemon juice is squeezed and measured, it goes into the mason jar along with olive oil, a clove of garlic, salt and chopped fresh herbs.
With a good shake, the entire mixture emulsifies into a creamy dressing.
More To-Go Dressings and Vinaigrettes To Love
Whether we are in the height of summertime and devouring as many fresh salad recipes as possible, or deep in winter and want fresh flavors on our veggies, we need dressings!
Never having tasted a bottle of store-bought salad dressing in my life, I could surely go into the business of selling them, because I have many.
- Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette – with sweet strawberries, sour balsamic vinegar, olive oil and a bit of red chili flakes for a great dressing.
- Mediterranean Tahini Salad Dressing – with sesame seed paste, known as Tahini, lemons, garlic and good olive oil makes the best dressing and sauce.
- Pomegranate Sumac Vinaigrette – With Pom Molasses, a Mediterranean twist on sweet, sour, spicy tangy flavors that is great for salads or marinades.
Ingredients Needed
- Lemons, are best used when left out to become room temperature.
- Garlic, should always be used from a fresh bulb, whether raw of one you have roasted for a slightly nutty flavor.
- Extra-virgin olive oil, or good quality and flavor, especially since there is not cooking involved and you want to taste only the best olive oil.
- Salt, can be a good quality kosher salt, a dead sea salt or even a slightly smoky salt.
- Fresh herbs, are up to you, however rosemary, thyme or marjoram hold up better in a dressing than softer leaf herbs.
Equipment Needed
- Citrus press, which makes the job easier and keeps the seeds out.
- Garlic press, a great mincing tool to extract the most out of your garlic.
- Mason jar with lid, 8 oz size jars are perfect for this recipe for both mixing and storing.
- Cutting board and chopping knife
- Blender or food processor are optional, if not using glass jars with lids.
- Refrigerator, for storing the dressing.
Mediterranean Lemon Salad Dressing and Marinade
Equipment
- Food processor or blender
- Citrus press
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup Lemon juice about 2 fresh lemons
- 1 tsp Lemon zest
- 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Garlic clove crushed
- 1 tsp Fresh rosemary, thyme or marjoram
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt or a smoky salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, place the lemon juice and zest from the lemon peel before cutting it open, and allow to sit out to room temperature.
- Place all of the ingredients into a food processor, or blender and puree until the mixture emulsifies into a creamy dressing.
- Transfer into a closed container, preferably a glass container with a lid, and store in the fridge until ready to use. When ready to use as a dressing or marinade, allow to sit out for 10 minutes, give a good hard shake, and pour.
- A great way to add a twist of different ingredients to this recipe, is a tsp of honey or dijon mustard, and you've got added flavors to enjoy with this simple yet delicious Mediterranean dressing.
Notes
- Stores for up to 1 week in the fridge.
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