Name: Magical Three-Ingredient Dressing
Prep time: 1 min
Yield: Makes about 1/3 cup dressing
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons Huy Fong Chili Garlic sauce (or similar); 1/4 cup mayonnaise (I use Sir Kensington’s or Duke’s or Hellman’s); 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar; 1 large pinch salt, plus more to taste

Photo by Rocky Luten

Test Kitchen-Approved

Author Notes

Mayonnaise-haters, look away. This magical dressing—which leans entirely on the creamy, tanginess of mayo and the spicy, garlicky Huy Fong sauce I eat by the jarful—is my secret weapon for any quick salad, grain bowl, seared protein, or sautéed green in need of some zhooshing up. It asks pretty much nothing of you, and gives you everything in return. —Ella Quittner

Prep time 1 minute
Makes about 1/3 cup dressing

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Huy Fong Chili Garlic sauce (or similar)
¹/₄ cup mayonnaise (I use Sir Kensington’s or Duke’s or Hellman’s)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 large pinch salt, plus more to taste

In This Recipe

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Directions

Whisk together all ingredients. Taste, and add more salt as needed. Thin with water if desired, or leave as is for a creamier dressing.

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John Christopher Nelson
LASGarcia
lisa goldberg
Regine
Wayne Smith

Review

Ella Quittner is a contributing writer and the Absolute Best Tests columnist at Food52. She covers food, travel, wellness, lifestyle, home, novelty snacks, and internet-famous sandwiches. You can follow her on Instagram @equittner, or Twitter at @ellaquittner. She also develops recipes for Food52, and has a soft spot for all pasta, anything spicy, and salty chocolate things.

Popular on Food52

17 Reviews

Jill F. April 16, 2019

Made this tonight on a quinoa bowl. It was delicious. Will use it again!!

John C. April 16, 2019

I’ve tried the dressing and it’s great. I’m curious if the dish that it’s used on in the photo above is also a food52 recipe? That looks awesome as well.

LASGarcia March 7, 2019

I make a similar version with Kewpie Mayo, Sambal and Yuzu Ponzu... I vary the amounts depending on what I am using it for. More Ponzu for dumplings, more mayo for spreading.

Author Comment

Ella Q. March 7, 2019

Sounds delicious, I love Kewpie Mayo!

lisa G. March 6, 2019

This sauce packs some heat! Used it on home made french fries, flank steak and even scrambled eggs. It instantly became a favorite :)

Author Comment

Ella Q. March 6, 2019

So glad it's a favorite! :)

Hilary March 4, 2019

Delicious sauce! It's true it is a bit spicy (I don't mind but my husband found it a bit too much). Increasing the mayo ratio is a quick fix! I can see this as a spread in sandwiches, too!

Author Comment

Ella Q. March 6, 2019

Yum, I'm all for that!

Regine March 3, 2019

I made this sauce but it is too hot for me. However, if you like it hot, it is delicious.

Laura March 3, 2019

Yummy! Similar to my go-to of mayo mixed with kimchi juice... love it on pita with scrambled eggs and greens

Author Comment

Ella Q. March 6, 2019

Wow, need to try ASAP.

bebere99 February 28, 2019

That combo of mayo / acid / chili garlic sauce is a staple here. We top omelets with it, use it as salad dressing, burger condiment, etc, etc. Sometimes we don't even mix the main ingredients! Haven't yet tried this on ice cream, but … well … it has possibilities.

Author Comment

Ella Q. February 28, 2019

Endless possibilities :)

Wayne S. February 28, 2019

Tastes great although it has 4 ingredients not 3. lol

Eric K. March 1, 2019

Hi Wayne, thanks for trying it!

Also, with our "#-ingredient" recipes, we don't count salt, pepper, water, and cooking fats, i.e. pantry items we're guessing you have covered. Hope that helps.

Corj February 28, 2019

I just bet it would make a great marinade / basting sauce for cooking (tofu, shrimp, chicken).

Author Comment

Ella Q. February 28, 2019

Totally! Sometimes I also use just the chili garlic sauce + vinegar or lemon juice + salt as a marinade for chicken thighs.

5 Ingredients or Fewer

Magical Three-Ingredient Dressing

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Ingredients

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Recipe by: Ella Quittner

Popular on Food52

17 Reviews