Lemon & Olive Oil Dressing (Ladolemono)

Ladolemonο, literally meaning olive oil and lemon, is perhaps the most classic Greek dressing. You can find it in many tavernas and households, as most Greeks love the taste of olive oil and lemon. As with most dressings, this can be used in a variety of dishes, for instance in green salads or poured over roasted vegetables.

But our favourite way to use ladolemono is alongside fish. But not any fish. In Greek cooking, fish is often prepared-and consumed whole, and ladolemono is served on the side, so that each person can pour the desired amount on their plates. Often, when ladolemono is served with fish, the lemon rinds are kept to clean the fish odour from the plates, after the meal is over. A truly no-waste recipe!

As this is a dressing without many ingredients, choose your olive oil and lemons carefully. Get the best you can afford. We recommend using our 18 olive oil. This exceptional oil is the first olive oil of the season, made from unripe olives when they are still small and green. It is a truly superior olive oil with a smooth, silky texture and warm, fruity and peppery aromas, which is perfect for this recipe.

Serves 2

4 tbsp lemon juice (from one lemon)
8 tbsp olive oil (plus more, to taste)
salt, to taste

Place the lemon juice in a bowl. Slowly pour in the olive oil and whisk together until emulsified. Season with salt.

There’s quite a bit of lemon in this dressing, so if you prefer a more subtle lemon flavour, then add a bit more olive oil, around 4 tbsp more.