This Creamy Citrus Salad Dressing is made from scratch with a short list of bold, flavorful ingredients. You'll blend bright citrus juices, vibrant ginger, and tangy yogurt into a smooth salad dressing. Or use this as a dip or sauce!
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Check out my Low Calorie Taco Salad and my Healthy Italian Pasta Salad for more delicious recipes!
Homemade Creamy Orange Dressing
Now that we're past the holidays, I'm in salad dressing recipe mode, and this creamy citrus dressing is the BEST.
This creamy citrus dressing is wonderful to have on hand—when I have a batch of this dressing in the fridge, having a salad for lunch is a no-brainer!
This citrusy dressing is the perfect balance of peppery, tart, tangy, savory, sweet, and creamy. I use fresh-squeezed orange juice and a little lemon juice to make this dressing. Greek yogurt turns this dressing into a creamy and smooth sauce instead of a vinaigrette. So simple and so good!
Be sure to also check out this list of salad dressings to make in a jar.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's the perfect dip for fresh sliced vegetables and snacks.
- It doubles as a fantastic chicken marinade. The citrus juices and tangy yogurt help tenderize meat.
- You'll add some excitement to your everyday salads.
- It's quick, easy, and ready in minutes.
- You can make it with low fat ingredients and without refined sugar.
Benefits of Raw Ginger
I added ginger to this dressing for two reasons. One, lemon and ginger compliment each other beautifully - and two, ginger is one of the most nourishing fresh roots to incorporate into your diet. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and loaded with antioxidants.
Ready to make a creamy and dreamy citrus ginger dressing from scratch? Let's do it.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Oil: I used vegetable oil, but canola oil, olive oil, and avocado oil are all good options.
- Citrus Juices: You'll need fresh lemon juice and orange juice to achieve a balance of sweet and tart citrus flavors. Juice from fresh lemons is non-negotiable, but the juice from fresh oranges can be store-bought if it's 100% fruit juice. Feel free to squeeze some lime juice in as well. If your citrus fruits are organic, feel free to use a zester and add some fresh zest for an even stronger citrusy aroma.
- Ginger: The best way to describe fresh ginger is equal parts sweet and heat. It's a flavor like no other and fantastic in salad dressing. So it doesn't go to waste, you can freeze ginger root whole and cut off pieces as needed. Peel ginger with a knife or a teaspoon (yes, a spoon!). I use a zester to grate ginger into tiny pieces.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar works. Or sweeten your dressing with monk fruit or honey. For a sugar-free option, omit the sugar.
- Salt & Pepper: To balance out the complex flavors. Fresh ground pepper is best here.
- Greek Yogurt: This is the creamy part. Feel free to use regular Greek yogurt or nonfat.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Whisk ingredients. Combine oil, lemon juice, ginger, sugar, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk well.
Step 2: Add yogurt and juice. Add Greek yogurt and orange juice to the bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and thoroughly combined. Likewise, you can throw everything into a high speed blender to blend the ingredients.
Step 3: Store. Pour the mixture into a mason jar or a salad dressing container with a secure lid and store it in the fridge. Give the container a shake to re-emulsify the ingredients before each use.
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Expert Tips
- To get the citrus juices flowing, gently press on the lemon and roll it back and forth on a hard surface. You can also pop it into the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Zest the lemons with a zester before juicing and add some of the zest for an even bolder lemony flavor.
- For a thinner consistency, whisk in a tablespoon of water at a time until it's the density you prefer.
Variations
Add herbs: If you have any fresh herbs on hand, chop up a few tablespoons and add them. Dill, tarragon, Thai basil, parsley, and cilantro are great options.
Add garlic: A garlic clove (minced, pressed, or minced with a zester) is a great addition to creamy dressing.
No yogurt? No problem. You aren't limited to Greek yogurt here. Mayo and sour cream are commonly whisked into salad dressings to achieve a smooth, silky texture.
Serving
As a dressing or dip, this dressing can transform the blandest of veggies into a mouthwatering meal. The best part? It doubles as a sauce and marinade. Check out the list below for more ways to use this dressing:
- Make sheet pan boneless chicken breast and potatoes and add a layer of this sauce to each piece of chicken before baking. Serve more on the side for dipping.
- Serve on the side of air fryer parmesan zucchini chips for a tasty snack or app.
- Drizzle it on ground chicken Thai lettuce wraps.
- Use it as a marinade for chicken, fish, and Tuscan pork tenderloin. The added fat from Greek yogurt helps make tender, juicy meat.
Storing
Pour your dressing into a mason jar or glass container with a tight-fitting lid and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Shake the container before each use. Do not freeze.
Recipe FAQ‘s
Yes, but you'll be able to tell the difference. I can't urge you enough to take the extra step and mince fresh ginger. If you use dried ground ginger, keep in mind a little bit goes a long way.
I haven't tested it with non-dairy ingredients. However, you can try replacing regular Greek yogurt with dairy-free Greek-style yogurt, vegan mayo, coconut cream, or avocado.
Dips & Dressings You'll Love
Creamy Citrus Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 ounces nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 4 ounces orange juice
Instructions
- Combine oil, lemon juice, ginger, sugar, pepper, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk well.
- Add Greek yogurt and orange juice to the bowl and whisk until the mixture is smooth and thoroughly combined. Likewise, you can throw everything into a high-speed blender to blend the ingredients.
- Pour the mixture into a mason jar or a salad dressing container with a secure lid and store it in the fridge. Give the container a shake to re-emulsify the ingredients before each use.
Notes
- To get the citrus juices flowing, gently press on the lemon and roll it back and forth on a hard surface. You can also pop it into the microwave for 5 to 10 seconds.
- Zest the lemons before juicing and add some of the zest for an even bolder lemony flavor.
- Flavor variations: add finely diced fresh herbs or zested or minced fresh garlic.
- For a thinner consistency, whisk in a tablespoon of water at a time until it’s the density you prefer.
- Storing: Pour your dressing into a mason jar or glass container with a tight-fitting lid and keep it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Shake the container before each use. Do not freeze.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary with brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Heidy L. McCallum
This creamy citrus ginger dressing was awesome! So good on salads!
Emmeline
This is soooo my type of dressing!! Ginger, lemon & then some yogurt on that... will use it for everything!
Toni
I really love how easy this is to make! Quickly became my favorite!
Amanda
I definitely overdid it during the holidays, so I definitely need this dressing right now! I'm on a huge salad kick, and I love the flavor the fresh ginger adds.
Jessica Formicola
This is my absolute favorite dressing recipe! It's so light and fresh, and super easy to make! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Sandra
This is so good! My new favorite dressing!
Irina
Citrus/ginger combo is one of my favorite, and your dressing recipe is a treasure! It seems once I make it, I would enjoy it for the next two weeks, keeping in the fridge:)
Noelle
You had me at ginger, this was great! Love the flavors.
Jacqueline Debono
I really love ginger but have never used it in a salad dressing before. Such a delicious idea!
Veena Azmanov
I love Citrus flavors and this dressing is definitely a try. Creamy and delicious.