Homemade Italian Dressing (VIDEO)

Homemade Italian Dressing is so much better than storebought because you can add the best quality ingredients like high-quality olive oil and parmesan cheese. This zesty Italian Dressing Recipe tastes fantastic and keeps really well in the refrigerator.

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Ingredients for Italian Dressing:

The ingredients for homemade Italian Dressing are pantry and refrigerator staples that we always have on hand to quickly whip up a batch. The addition of parmesan and mayo add a creamy element to this Italian dressing.

I love to make and serve it right out of the mason jar so you can quickly re-shake it before serving and easily store the leftover dressing in the refrigerator. This is so good over a fresh green salad, Italian Pasta Salad or any recipe that calls for Italian Dressing.

Watch How to Make Italian Dressing Video:

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Which Oil Should I Use?

Store-bought dressings almost always use cheap, poor quality oils because they are cost-effective. With homemade Italian dressing, you control what goes in it. We love using extra virgin olive oil because it adds another layer of flavor. You just have to smell a bottle of extra virgin olive oil when you open it to know it will be a great choice. You can also use mild-flavored oils like regular olive oil, extra light olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.

The Best Vinegar for Italian Dressing:

the most commonly used vinegar is white wine vinegar. It is less acidic than plain distilled white vinegar and has a deeper flavor because it is a vinegar made from white wine, which makes it perfect for making salad dressings. We did a test with distilled white vinegar and in a pinch, you can still use it to make homemade Italian dressing. If using distilled vinegar, you might add a little less, or just add it to taste.

Can I Omit the Sugar?

The sugar in Italian dressing doesn’t make the dressing sweet, but it balances the acidity of the vinegar but you can add the sugar to taste. If you are looking for a natural alternative, you can substitute the sugar for 1 tsp honey.

Why Did My Dressing Firm Up?

It is normal for a homemade dressing to solidify or firm up when refrigerated. Store-bought dressings add emulsifiers to prevent that but it’s an easy fix. If your dressing firms up with refrigeration, let it sit at room temperature 30 minutes before serving then shake vigorously to re-blend before serving.

Cook’s tip: Remove dressing from the refrigerator before you start making your salad so it is ready to use when you are done prepping your salad.

More Homemade Dressings and Sauces:

These homemade dressing recipes prove that making your own is best! Check out all of our condiment recipes here.

• Creamy Caesar Dressing
• Avocado Ranch Dressing
• Tzatziki Sauce 
• Homemade Marinara Sauce
• Basil Pesto Sauce
• Chimichurri Sauce

Italian Dressing

5 from 443 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

Italian Dressing is so much better homemade because you can add the best quality ingredients without any additives. This zesty Italian Dressing Recipe tastes fantastic and keeps really well in the refrigerator. 

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 10 minutes mins

Ingredients 

US CustomaryMetric

Servings: 8 people

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, finely grated
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 garlic clove, finely grated or pressed
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or more to taste
• 1/2 tsp black pepper, or to taste

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Instructions

• Combine all ingredients in a mason jar, cover tightly with lid and shake until well combined and emulsified.* Add more salt to taste if desired. Use right away or refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

Notes

*You can also whisk dressing together in a mixing bowl or put it into the bowl of a blender or food processor and whirl it up until well blended.

Nutrition Per Serving

148kcal Calories1g Carbs1g Protein16g Fat3g Saturated Fat2g Polyunsaturated Fat10g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat3mg Cholesterol186mg Sodium12mg Potassium1g Fiber1g Sugar29IU Vitamin A1mg Vitamin C42mg Calcium1mg Iron

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Nutrition Facts

Italian Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

148

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

16

g

25

%

Saturated Fat

 

3

g

19

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

2

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

10

g

Cholesterol

 

3

mg

1

%

Sodium

 

186

mg

8

%

Potassium

 

12

mg

0

%

Carbohydrates

 

1

g

0

%

Fiber

 

1

g

4

%

Sugar

 

1

g

1

%

Protein

 

1

g

2

%

Vitamin A

 

29

IU

1

%

Vitamin C

 

1

mg

1

%

Calcium

 

42

mg

4

%

Iron

 

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Condiments, Dressing, Sauce

Cuisine: American, Italian, Mediterranean

Keyword: italian dressing

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $

Calories: 148