BEST Italian Dressing
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The perfect balance of flavors, get ready to whip up the BEST, most flavorful homemade Italian dressing recipe in less than 5 minutes! Delicious on green salads, pasta salads or as a marinade!
Homemade Italian Dressing
Nothing beats the taste of good homemade Italian dressing! The flavors are fresh, vibrant and simply wonderful. And the flavor only gets better with time so it’s the perfect make-ahead dressing.
Not only does it taste WAY better than store-bought, making your own Italian dressing has additional benefits. Virtually ALL store-bought dressings are made with yucky oils and junk ingredients including additives, preservatives, flavor enhancers and other undesirable ingredients that are better off left on the shelf. As easy as it is to make it yourself, there’s just no good reason to use store-bought!
With this recipe you get an Italian dressing that not only tastes fabulous but is healthy and takes just 5 minutes to whip up! It’s a total win-win!
Italian Dressing Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend for about 30 seconds. Flecks of Parmesan cheese will remain.
Pour into a jar or dressing dispenser and store in the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Enjoy!
Storage
Keep it in an airtight jar in the fridge where it will keep for up to two weeks. The flavor of this dressing improves over time as the oils are released from the herbs and the flavors have time to meld.
How to Use Italian Dressing
Besides its classic use for tossed salads, this dressing has a ton of tasty uses – your imagination is the limit! Use this dressing for:
- Pasta salads
- Leafy green salads
- Vegetables
- Sandwiches
- Wraps
- Marinated olives
- As a marinade for chicken, beef, pork, shrimp, fish and kabobs
- and any other way your creativity dictates!
Be sure to try these other delicious homemade dressings:
- Ranch Dressing
- Catalina Dressing
- Asian Salad Dressing
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Thousand Island Dressing
- Russian Dressing
- Strawberry Poppy Seed Dressing
- Orange Poppy Seed Dressing
- Creamy French Dressing
- Creamy Cilantro Dressing
- Lemon Dill Mustard Dressing
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BEST Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons honey (vegans: use liquid sweetener)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon Hungarian sweet paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/16 teaspoon celery seeds
Instructions
- Place everything in a blender and blend for about 30 seconds (small of flecks of Parmesan will remain). Pour into a jar or dressing dispenser and refrigerate. Chill for at least 4 hours before using. Will keep for up to 2 weeks.The flavor of this dressing improves over time as the oils are released from the herbs and the flavors have time to meld.
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet July 27, 2018
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I made this dressing and used as many fresh herbs as I could it was delicious. Now I crave it. It’s a keeper in my book.
Fantastic, Shelley, I’m so glad, thank you!
Could I freeze part of this recipe ?
Hi Brian, I haven’t tried it but generally you can freeze oil-vinegar based items but with varying results depending on the other ingredients (i.e. the Parmesan cheese). I’m not sure how the texture will be impacted. Keep in mind though that this dressing will keep for a couple of weeks and likely longer.
OMG… I read the recipe for this salad dressing, please realize I didn’t bother to make this dressing. I can’t speak from my experience, eating this dressing.
I read recipes and give them 5 star’s if they sound good, because I don’t cook. I merely read recipes.
Wise up, expectation folks, is for you to actually prepare a recipe, then give a rating after you’ve consumed the product.
I did prepare and consumed this dressing.
I loved each note the multitude of spices provided.
This recipe provides more complexity than my previously go to Good Seasons copycat recipe for Italian dressing.
I marinated tomatoes, parmesan cheese, fresh basil and bacon in this dressing.
Delicious.
Hi Dee, I’m so glad you enjoyed this and appreciate the feedback, thank you!
Made up the dressing this past weekend for a vegetable salad. It was great! The addition of fresh parmesan is especially nice. I did add one extra tablespoon of oil, but that may have been necessary due to the quality of red wine vinegar used (okay, but not top of the line since I don’t use red wine vinegar all that often). Next time I will leave out the rosemary. Even the smallest amount of rosemary can upset an otherwise perfect balance of herbs and spices. Thanks.
Wonderful, grayslady, thanks for the feedback!
I can see why this is the best! It looks and sounds great!
This dressing has stolen my heart.
I am saving this for my next salad! Love it!
Homemade dressings are so good!