Creamy Dill Dressing
This creamy and flavourful dill dressing is a tangy, easy-to-make, gluten-free salad dressing. It’s great for green salads, potato salads, and sandwiches. Or serve it as a dip for veggie crudités or crispy falafel.
This creamy dill dressing is a light and refreshing combination of tangy Greek yogurt and sour cream, vibrant fresh dill, zesty lemon juice, savoury garlic powder and luscious olive oil.
The easy homemade salad dressing is guaranteed to liven any old salad from a leafy green salad to a creamy potato salad. Use it as a spread in sandwiches and wraps. Or serve it as a creamy dip for veggie crudités or crispy falafel.
And the best part? It uses simple ingredients and is ready in minutes with hardly any effort.
Customize the creamy lemon dill sauce with a few simple tweaks. Add extra fresh lemon juice for a tart dressing or some mayonnaise for a rich and creamy variation.
Why you’ll love this dill dressing
This easy dill yogurt dressing is the perfect way to add a burst of flavour and creaminess to your salads, sandwiches and dips.
If you need more convincing to grab your whisk, here are a few more reasons you’ll love this creamy dill salad dressing:
- Tangy and creamy: The combination of Greek yogurt and sour cream makes this dressing creamy yet tangy and light while still packed with flavour.
- Fresh flavours: The fresh dill and garlic powder add a delicious garlic and herb flavour to the salad dressing.
- Naturally gluten-free: This creamy dill salad dressing recipe is naturally gluten-free. And you can make a plant-based version by substituting dairy products with vegan equivalents.
- Very versatile: This dressing is incredibly versatile. Use it to add creaminess to salads, sandwiches, wraps, roasted vegetables, and more. Or serve it as a refreshing herbed yogurt dip for crúdites.
- Quick and easy: And, best of all, you only need a minute to make the yogurt dill sauce and it requires a handful of simple ingredients.
Dill dressing ingredients and substitutes
This creamy dill dressing is a delicious topping for salads, grain bowls, sandwiches and crúdites. And the recipe is very flexible. Feel free to substitute to your heart’s content!
- Greek yogurt: Use plain, full-fat Greek yogurt for the best results. It provides a light and tangy creaminess when combined with the sour cream. But, you can also use only yogurt for the lightest dressing. Or substitute the Greek yogurt with more sour cream or mayonnaise for a richer dressing.
- Sour cream: I like the combination of yogurt and sour cream. It is tangy and creamy yet light. But you can also use all yogurt or swap the sour cream for mayonnaise for a richer dressing.
- Fresh dill: Fresh dill is essential for the vibrant flavour and gorgeous green hue of this dressing. But if you don’t have fresh dill, use a teaspoon of dried dill instead. Or try the creamy dressing with other fresh herbs like basil or parsley, or try a dried herb blend like Italian seasoning.
- Lemon juice: Use freshly squeezed juice. You’ll need about one whole lemon for each cup of dairy (yogurt or sour cream). You can also use white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar instead.
- Olive oil: Use good-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavour and luscious texture. Or use your favourite salad dressing oil, like avocado oil.
- Garlic powder: I love the subtle garlicky taste it adds. But if you don’t have any, you can omit it without impacting the final dish too much. Or add a teaspoon of minced fresh garlic instead.
- Salt: Salt makes all the flavours work together. You can use kosher salt, sea salt or any other type of salt you prefer. Simply adjust the seasoning to taste.
- Black pepper: A generous grind of black pepper adds a subtle spicy hum.
Tip: When you squeeze a lemon for its juice, zest it first. You can dry lemon zest in the oven or leave it in a sunny spot for a few days. Dried lemon zest is a very convenient and versatile ingredient.
How to make dill salad dressing (step-by-step)
This homemade dill dressing is an easy way to add a delicious dill flavour to salads, sandwiches, and more. Plus, it comes together in just a few minutes.
All you need to do is whisk together the ingredients and adjust the seasoning. Just like that, you have a creamy, delicious and nutritious dressing to boost your midweek meals.
Step 1: Place all ingredients in a bowl
In a small bowl, combine
- half cup of Greek yogurt,
- half cup of sour cream (or more yogurt, if desired),
- a quarter cup of finely chopped fresh dill,
- two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice,
- one tablespoon of olive oil,
- a teaspoon of garlic powder and
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt.
Step 2: Mix and adjust
Mix the ingredients together until the dill dressing is smooth and creamy.
Taste your dill yogurt and adjust the seasoning. Add freshly ground black pepper, more salt or a little extra lemon juice to taste.
Step 3: Get the consistency right
Your yogurt dill sauce is ready for potato salad, a veggie dip, or a sandwich spread.
But for a pourable salad dressing consistency, add cold water a little bit at a time. Taste and readjust the seasoning.
Storage: Transfer your dill salad dressing to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to one week.
Serving suggestions for creamy dill sauce
This creamy dill dressing is a great way to add a burst of flavour to your favourite dishes. Use it as a salad dressing, a dip, or as an accompaniment to sandwiches, wraps, grain bowls and roasted vegetables.
It takes just minutes to make and can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. Why not make a double batch during meal prep to add to your midweek meals (use the adjustable slider in the recipe card)?
- Leafy green salads: Drizzle this creamy dill dressing over your favourite green salads. It pairs particularly well with leafy greens like baby spinach and kale.
- Creamy cold salads: The creamy yogurt sauce is great for a light yet creamy cold salad like egg salad and potato salad. Try it in this creamy red potato salad with dill dressing.
- Soups: Add a swirl of this dill dressing to spicy soups like this harissa and red lentil soup.
- Dip: Use this flavourful dressing as a veggie dip for raw or cooked vegetables. Or serve it alongside crispy falafel as you would tzatziki.
- Sandwiches and wraps: Spread a generous layer of dill dressing on your sandwich, wrap, or falafel pita sandwich.
- Roasted vegetables: Drizzle some dill dressing over roasted vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower. It’s especially delicious with sweet and spicy roasted vegetables like hot honey Brussels sprouts or harissa roasted carrots (pictured below).
- Fries: Use this creamy dill dressing as a dipping sauce for fries. It is fresher and lighter than mayonnaise-based dipping sauces and works especially well with sweet potato fries.
- Fish: Add a dollop of the dressing to seafood dishes as you would tartare or tzatziki.
Frequently asked questions
Dill dressing typically includes fresh dill, lemon juice or vinegar, olive oil or another oil, fresh minced garlic or garlic powder, and salt. And Greek yogurt, sour cream or mayonnaise creates a creamy dill dressing.
Dill is a versatile herb that adds a fresh flavour to various dishes. It pairs well with fish, chicken, and vegetable dishes. And it is excellent in sauces, salad dressings, and dips, such as tzatziki and dill dressing.
Yogurt dill is a sauce, dressing or dip made from a base of unflavoured yogurt with fresh dill, minced garlic or garlic powder, lemon juice, and salt. It’s a cool, refreshing accompaniment to grilled meats, vegetables, and Mediterranean-style dishes.
This cooling dill dressing is a great way to add flavour to any meal. Give this creamy dill sauce recipe a go and let me know how you used it in the comments below.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Greek yogurt*
- ½ cup sour cream*
- ¼ cup fresh dill*, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice, from about 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- cold water, as needed
Instructions
- Combine the yogurt, sour cream, dill, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder and salt in a small bowl and whisk together until combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning with freshly ground black pepper, more salt or a little extra lemon juice.
- Your creamy lemon dill sauce is ready for potato salad or a dipping sauce. Or mix in cold water until you reach a pourable consistency to use as a creamy salad dressing.
- Transfer your dill salad dressing to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to one week.
Notes
- I like the combination of yogurt and sour cream. It is tangy and creamy yet light. But you can also use yogurt only or swap the yogurt for mayonnaise if you want a richer dressing.
- If you don’t have fresh dill, use a teaspoon of dried dill instead.
- Refrigerate in a sealed container for up to one week and mix well before serving.
Try more salad dressings and sauces:
