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5 Ingredients or Fewer

Magical Three-Ingredient Dressing

by:
October  4, 2022
4
24 Ratings
Photo by Rocky Luten
  • Prep time 1 minute
  • Makes About 1/3 cup dressing
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

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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
Directions
  1. 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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This Recipe is Featured In:

The 30-Second, 3-Ingredient 'Secret Sauce' I Drizzle Over Absolutely Everything

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27 Reviews

Write a Review
FrugalCat January 30, 2024
Really good. I always buy Duke's mayo- no sugar added, comes in a pouch with a spout so no waste. I made this with the apple cider vinegar and next time I will sub white balsamic.
Smaug January 18, 2024
Then again, the chili sauce and mayonnaise each list 9 ingredients. This is kind of like saying "One ingredient pasta sauce- buy a bucket of Ragu".
Zamboni February 1, 2024
And when have you ever seen a recipie that uses a commercial product list all of its ingredients........ silly, you don't have to get all 9 just buy the jar, or better yet you keep buying Ragu in the jar......... sheesh
Smaug February 1, 2024
I'm sorry, is this comment intended to communicate something?
Zamboni February 2, 2024
Your comment critiquing the title of three ingredients as really being 9 is both silly and juvenile.
Smaug February 2, 2024
That's actually 22 ingredients, less any duplicates, but whatever. It's a matter of orientation; if you're only interested in shopping it's a fairly short list. On the chance that there might still be a serious cook or two using this site who would be more interested in what they're actually making, it seemed worth pointing out that characterizing this as a simple dish is very misleading.
Zamboni February 2, 2024
Ha!..... You just proved my point. You actually took the time to count and compare for duplicates, all the ingredients on a simple trio of items commonly used seperately but perhaps not all together. That was the authors point...... You proved my point, .......silly, juvenile, and now bordering on sad.
Smaug February 2, 2024
Dear fellow, if all you have to offer is vague insults both common decency and F52 policy would suggest that you should put a sock in it.
Monte April 20, 2023
I bought some Thai themed seafood burgers (frozen) at our local Sprouts here in Tucson and decided to make a quick salad super of them this evening. I also had a HUGE jar of Chili Garlic Sauce I had no idea what to do with, and so I looked up recipes for a dressing to utilize. This was absolutely PERFECT!

And, while not your recipe, I am happy to say that the burgers were great, too! I really wasn't expecting much. LOL. But they were, indeed, Thai-tasting and went perfect atop some mixed greens and veggies, that included some mini-corn and water chestnuts. Your dressing really made the Thai flavors stand out! (A glass of Sauvignon Blanc with a hint of lemon grass didn't hurt.)

I did sub lime juice for the vinegar, but this will be a staple in my dressing lineup now, for sure! Thanks for such a beautiful, simple dressing recipe!
Monte April 20, 2023
Oops. Correction. I used 2 TBLS of lime juice in place of the 2 tsp cider vinegar. My bad...
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.
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 :)
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!
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
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.
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).
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.