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My 10-minute Homemade Italian Dressing recipe is bursting with vibrant flavors! Combining lemon juice, garlic, and Italian parsley, it has a zesty, herby kick. A touch of honey adds sweetness, while Dijon mustard gives it a smooth, tangy depth. Add red wine vinegar and olive oil, and you have the perfect balance of acidity and richness. You're going to love this bold, refreshing Italian dressing recipe, whether you're using it as Italian salad dressing or as a marinade for meat or veggies!
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Tools to Make Italian Dressing
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Grater
- Jar with a lid (for mixing and storing)
Italian Dressing Recipe Ingredients
- Oil: You can use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil according to your tastes. Olive oil has a richer flavor, so try both and see what you enjoy best.
- Vinegar: For the vinegar, use either red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar. I prefer red wine vinegar, but either can be used.
- Garlic: I'm using a freshly minced garlic clove to make homemade Italian dressing, and recommend it. You can also use garlic paste. I recommend you avoid using bottled minced garlic, though.
- Lemon Juice: It's important to use fresh lemon for this recipe. Bottled lemon juice does not have the same flavor and won't taste nearly as good.
- Italian Parsley: Also known as flat-leaf parsley. You could use curly parsley if it's what you have on hand.
- Honey: I recommend local honey if possible. It always tastes better! Alternatively, I love Savannah Bee brand.
- Italian Seasoning: I recommend using my own homemade Italian seasoning. It's great to have on hand for all kinds of recipes.
- Dijon Mustard: Alternatively, you could also use brown mustard. Avoid using stone-ground mustard (too grainy) or plain yellow mustard (not the right flavor).
- Additional Seasoning: As well as Italian seasoning, you will also add garlic powder, coarse kosher salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Sea salt will work in place of kosher salt, and if you prefer no spice, you can leave out the red pepper.
Hi, I'm Isabel! I've been sharing my recipes online, in cookbooks, and in TV specials since 2012. The most important thing to me is Sunday supper with my family, and inspiring togetherness with my recipes!
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What to Serve with Italian Dressing
- Burrata Salad
- Summer Pasta Salad
- Black Eyed Pea Dip
- Air Fryer Broccoli
- Chicken Breast or Thigh (as a marinade to make Italian chicken)
Tips for Making Italian Dressing
- Using fresh ingredients, like fresh garlic and fresh lemon juice, will give your dressing a much better taste. In a pinch, I'll use garlic paste, but the texture and flavor from fresh garlic is preferable.
- After storing your dressing, make sure to give it a good mix again to distribute all of the ingredients evenly. Italian dressing will separate, but this is normal. Just stir it back together or give the closed jar a shake.
- Make sure to store your dressing properly in the refrigerator in an airtight container such as a jar with a lid.
Zesty Italian Dressing FAQ
Yes, you can make creamy Italian dressing following my recipe. Add 3 Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese for a creamy dressing.
You can adjust the ratio of oil and vinegar depending on how tangy you like your dressing. Use less vinegar for a less tangy dressing.
I prefer red wine vinegar, but white wine vinegar is a popular choice, too. These vinegars are less acidic than other varieties and have great flavor.
Yes, Italian dressing is a type of vinaigrette. It uses vinegar and oil, which is the base for any vinaigrette.
Storing Homemade Italian Dressing
The dressing is good for up to 2 weeks in the fridge stored in an airtight container such as a jar with a lid. Mix before serving to redistribute the ingredients.
Making Italian Dressing
For the longest time, I relied on a bottled Italian dressing I loved. Whenever I craved Italian dressing, it was my go-to, with no substitutes. Then, my grocery store stopped stocking it! I tried all different kinds of bottled Italian dressings trying to match that flavor, and none of them had what I was looking for. I was distraught but determined: if I couldn't find that perfect bottled dressing, I would just have to make my own.
It was so worth it. My homemade Italian salad dressing is crafted with love for the best flavors this dressing has to offer. It's bold and richly flavorful, with a vibrant, zesty taste. After trying it, I knew I would never be buying bottled Italian dressing again. Try making Italian dressing following my recipe, and I guarantee you're going to want to keep a bottle of it in your fridge at all times!
Homemade Italian Dressing
Equipment
- Grater
- Jar with a lid
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup avocado oil - or extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine - or white wine vinegar
- 1 garlic clove - minced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon Italian parsley - finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a bowl or jar.⅔ cup avocado oil,¼ cup red wine,1 garlic clove,2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice,1 Tablespoon Italian parsley,2 teaspoons honey,1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning,1 teaspoon Dijon mustard,1 teaspoon garlic powder,1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt,½ teaspoon black pepper,½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Mix together using a whisk or fork, or close the jar and shake until fully combined.
Notes
- Using fresh ingredients, like fresh garlic and fresh lemon juice, will give your dressing a much better taste.
- After storing your dressing, make sure to give it a good mix again to distribute all of the ingredients evenly.
- Make sure to store your dressing properly in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
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