I Put This 3-Ingredient Salad Dressing on Everything

Time tends to get away from me when I’m working from home, and before I know it, my stomach’s grumbling for lunch. My husband Jake also works from home, and my mother (a retiree) lives with us. Thus, as the designated cook in the family, whenever I make food, I make it for everyone. I’ll head downstairs to our kitchen, peek in the fridge, and see what I can throw together in a few minutes.

Salads are always my go-to for a quick lunch. One afternoon, when I was out of my favorite bottled dressing, I threw together a quick one with three ingredients I always have on hand: Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and soy sauce. I was inspired by all the times I’ve made easy, savory yogurt marinades for chicken dishes like tandoori chicken or chicken biryani. 

For lunch that day, I tossed washed arugula, a handful of dried cranberries, cooked chicken breast, clementines, and toasted sesame seeds into a salad bowl. I added the salad dressing, gave everything a good toss, and had a delicious, satisfying salad in no time. Jake and my Cantonese mom (who never used to eat raw veggies) both approved! 

Use this versatile dressing for green salads, bean salads, or creamy chicken salads.

Key Ingredients for This Salad Dressing

Thick and creamy, protein-packed Greek yogurt thins down with the help of the freshly-squeezed lemon juice. The citrus notes add brightness, making your lips pucker, but in a way that’s not excessively sour and keeps you going back for more. A high-quality soy sauce adds delicious umami that enhances this easy dressing. In fact, soy sauce is my secret weapon for salad dressings in general. 

My everyday soy sauce is a shirodashi, or white soy sauce, made with bonito, mushrooms, oysters, and kombu extract. These are all ingredients rich with glutamates, leading to extra umami flavor. If you can’t find shirodashi, a sweeter soy sauce from Lee Kum Kee would work, or a high-quality Japanese soy sauce like those by Yamasa or Kikkoman that aren’t overpoweringly salty. 

How To Make My 3-Ingredient Yogurt Salad Dressing

To make about 3/4 cup of salad dressing (enough for 2 to 3 salads), you’ll need:

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 
• 3 tablespoons freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon high-quality soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup, or to taste, optional

In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, lemon juice, soy sauce, and maple syrup or honey (if using). Mix with a fork or whisk until homogenous, smooth, and creamy. 

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Stir well before using.

Easy Tweaks

• Swap the citrus: Substitute the lemon juice with freshly-squeezed lime juice or bottled calamansi or yuzu juice for a different citrus twist. 
• Sweeten it up: Add a teaspoon of maple syrup for a balancing sweetness. 
• Add zest: Zest the lemon before juicing it and add the grated zest to the dressing for a pop of color and flavor. 
• Make a marinade: Use the dressing as a chicken or meat marinade! Increase the amount of soy sauce to at least 2 tablespoons, toss with your protein of choice, and refrigerate for at least half an hour to tenderize the meat and add lots of flavor.