The Easiest Homemade Garlic Yogurt Sauce Perfect For Dipping
I was at a wedding recently. Yogurt dressing was an option for topping our salad.
A few folks at my table were skeptical.
“Yogurt dressing? I don’t want to put yogurt on my salad. Pass me the Italian.”
I convinced one of my friends to try it, and she was a convert.
“This tastes just as good as ranch! And I don’t feel guilty about eating it.”
Try this easy garlic yogurt sauce recipe to add creaminess and richness to a dish. It is great on roasted root vegetables, beans, legumes, and meats. Garlic, lemon, and black pepper add tons of flavor to this healthy yogurt sauce.
Yogurt is widely used in Middle Eastern, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine to offer a blast of acid and creaminess. Gyros, tikka masala and raita are a few dishes that you’ll find yogurt playing a big role in.
This garlic yogurt sauce is perfect to just leave out on the table with a spoon during a simple lunch or dinner. It goes well with so many foods. You and your dinner-mates will end up putting it on everything you can!
Keep reading so you can skip the ranch and use this healthy sauce instead.
Is Yogurt Healthy?
Depending on the latest health trend, dairy is either great for you or not great for you. Let’s look specifically at plain (not sweetened) whole milk yogurt and Greek yogurt.
Yogurt and other dairy is high in calcium, protein, and vitamin D (milk is generally fortified with this). These maintain bone density, muscle mass and bone mass, respectively (Source: Harvard University). Yogurt is also loaded with probiotics. Evidence suggests that probiotics benefit your immune system and digestive tract (Source: WebMD).
The Bottom(ish) Line
Look for plain, unsweetened yogurt produced from humanely raised animals that aren’t treated with hormones. The ingredients list on the yogurt I have in my refrigerator is short and sweet:
Organic whole milk, Vitamin D3, Pectin, and a bunch of healthy probiotic cultures.
I’ll take yogurt over store bought salad dressing filled with processed oils and preservatives any day.
How Long Does this Garlic Yogurt Sauce Keep?
This yogurt sauce will last covered in the refrigerator for 1 week.
When fresh aromatics such as garlic, onion, or shallots are added to a sauce, the shelf life reduces.
As a rule of thumb, if a dressing doesn’t use any fresh ingredients then it should last close to a month. If it does, it will last closer to a week.
For example, this balsamic vinaigrette uses just oil and vinegar. I don’t use it quite as much, so I want it to last longer. It will last about a month.
How Should I Store This Garlic Yogurt Sauce?
This sauce is great for pulling out of the refrigerator at a moments notice. Here are some options for containers to make and store this sauce in.
Call me old-fashioned, but mason jars are what I use for making all meal prep dressings like this one. They are easily sealed and have measurements on them for easy mixing. These 16 oz. jars are the best size for dressings. They are big enough for a one or two week batches, but small enough to easily fit inside your refrigerator door.
For an equally classic option, check out these Weck jars.
Garlic Yogurt Sauce Ingredients
This sauce is as simple as it gets with just 5 ingredients (plus water). It takes less than 5 minutes to make.
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Lemon – Look for lemons that are fully yellow and are a little bit soft when gently squeezed. This little bit of give means that the lemon is full of juice. This citrus squeezer is the only one you’ll need for the rest of your life.
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Garlic – When picking garlic, choose a bulb that is heavy and firm with tight skin. It shouldn’t have any soft spots.
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Yogurt – I prefer whole milk plain yogurt. Fat free, low fat, or Greek yogurt will work as well. Check the ingredients to make sure there aren’t a bunch of preservatives or added sugar. It should just be milk, pectin, Vitamin D3 (maybe), and a bunch of probiotic strains likely ending in “lus” that you won’t be able to pronounce.
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Kosher Salt – Diamond Crystal kosher salt was used for this recipe and all other recipes on walktoeat. Use this conversion table from The Spruce Eats if you only have another type of salt.
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Black Pepper – Freshly cracked black pepper is always best.
What Can I Use This Garlic Yogurt Sauce On?
Leave this sauce on the table with a spoon during your next meal and I’m sure you will find something to put it on. Here are a few ideas to make a meal out of this sauce:
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Sweet Potatoes – Add to these roasted sweet potatoes to add a rich, garlicky bite to this simple roasted dish.
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Chicken – Serve on the side of this buttermilk roasted chicken for a tasty main dish.
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Beans – Chop up some herbs or greens, combine with canned or dried beans, toss with this vinaigrette and season with salt. Top these 15 minute marinated chickpeas for an incredible side dish.
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Salad – Replace ranch dressing with this more healthy homemade version. Add water 1 Tbsp. at a time to the recipe below for a thinner sauce.
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Beets – Top these roasted beets to make a yogurt and beet salad. Top it off with a handful or two of light greens like arugula, spinach, or herbs to up the healthiness.
Want More Dressings? Check These Out.
Tasty sauces and dressings are a secret weapon for any cook. They can turn a dish from average to delicious in a matter of seconds.
Top off a dish with one of these delicious recipes and it will taste better:
Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lemon, juice only
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt or Greek yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 -3 Tbsp. water (optional, will make a thinner sauce)
Instructions
- Combine lemon juice, garlic, yogurt, salt, and pepper in a jar or bowl. Add water 1 Tbsp. at a time to reach desired consistency. Store covered in refrigerator for up to a week.