Italian Dressing

Why You’ll Love Italian Dressing

A good Italian dressing recipe has an authentic flavour and is made with simple, everyday ingredients. Our recipe uses easy-to-find pantry staples, making it a convenient choice for any home cook.

Our recipe is quick and easy with a prep time of only 5 minutes, making it super handy for those busy weeknights yet want to inject some flavour into your salads.

This is one of the best Italian dressing recipes because it’s versatile, healthy, and totally customisable to suit your palette or the meal you’re cooking.

Most importantly, it is homemade without all the nasties from a pre-packed bottle, and nothing goes to waste as you make as much as you need.

What is Italian Dressing?

A basic Italian dressing recipe is a type of vinaigrette, a blend of oil and vinegar that is commonly used to dress salads. It originates from Italian-American cuisine and is known for its tangy, herby, and slightly sweet flavour profile. 

The primary ingredients in Italian dressing are olive oil and red wine vinegar. These two components are emulsified together to create a smooth, cohesive mixture.

Flavour enhancers are then added to give the dressing its distinctive savoury and aromatic taste. This can include dried herbs and alliums like garlic and onion. 

For a bit of tang and sweetness, Dijon mustard and sugar will do the trick. The mustard adds a slight tanginess and helps to emulsify the dressing, while the sugar balances the acidity of the vinegar.

Love the versatility of this recipe!

Does Italian Dressing Have Dairy?

No, our recipe is dairy free. If you are buying a pre-packaged dressing, do check the ingredients as they sometimes do include cheeses such as parmesan as well as whey and milk solids.

For more diary free salad dressings, try our Nicoise salad dressing recipe, sumac dressing or shrimp cocktail sauce.

Does Italian Dressing Have Gluten?

No, our recipe is gluten free. 

For more gluten free salad dressings, try our coleslaw dressing recipe, vegan tahini ranch dressing or basil mint dressing.

Does Italian Dressing Have Carbs?

Our recipe includes sugar which amounts to 1g of carbs. Please omit should you wish to reduce the carb intake.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make Italian dressing:

• Red wine vinegar: Great for making a tart vinaigrette as the flavours are nice and punchy. You can use everyday red wine vinegar or if you want to splurge, the barrel-aged variety would be delicious.

• Olive oil: As always, use good olive oil for your dressings. Extra virgin may suit your palette better too.

• Garlic powder: Any garlic powder will do, and if you have a homemade version, even better! The garlic is an essential ingredient for Italian dressings and will give it that lovely pungent flavour.

• Onion powder: Can’t ever go wrong with having some onion powder always on hand in the pantry. Great if you want a little of the onion taste throughout your cooking without having to use an entire onion.

• Dried oregano and dried basil: A small amount of these quintessential Italian dried herbs will suffice; such great aromas and flavours.

• Dijon mustard: An essential ingredient to help emulsify the Italian dressing. Any of your go-to brands will work.

• Sugar: Classic Italian dressing is sweet, so a hint of sugar balances the acidity, preventing it from being too sharp.

Variations and Substitutions

Creamy Italian dressing: For a creamy version, add 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt. For extra creaminess and tang, a splash of buttermilk will do the trick.

Spicy Italian dressing: Add ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick.

Lemon Italian dressing: Replace the red wine vinegar with fresh lemon juice for a citrusy flavour. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest for an extra burst of lemon.

Herbed Italian dressing: Add 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped herbs like parsley, thyme, or rosemary for a fresh, herby flavour. Use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder for a more pungent taste.

Balsamic Italian dressing: Substitute red wine vinegar with balsamic vinegar for a sweeter, richer flavour.

Red wine vinegar substitute: Substitute with apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. For a milder flavour, use rice vinegar or champagne vinegar.

Dijon mustard alternative: Substitute with yellow mustard or wholegrain mustard for a different texture and flavour. For a sweeter alternative, use honey mustard.

Garlic powder: If you prefer to use fresh garlic, you most certainly can! Use 1-2 cloves of freshly minced garlic for greater intensity. You can also try garlic paste or roasted garlic for a milder, sweeter taste.

Onion powder: Want to use fresh onion? Absolutely. Substitute with 1 tablespoon of finely minced fresh onion or shallot.

Instructions

Step by step instructions for how to make Italian dressing:

In a small mixing bowl, add the red wine vinegar. Slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking as you do so to ensure it is properly emulsified.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

Whisk until well combined.

How to Store

If you’re wondering if Italian dressing goes bad, yes it can, as you’re using fresh ingredients.

Store the dressing in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Olive oil may solidify when chilled, so let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before use and shake or whisk it again. Use the dressing within a week for the best flavour.

Best Salad for This Dressing

Chickpea Avocado Salad

Pairing a classic homemade Italian salad dressing with simple staples such as chickpeas and broccoli makes for an easy side salad to serve with dinner. This chickpea avocado salad has the perfect balance of creamy textures, delicate leaves and roasted flavours. Enjoy!