I have a love affair with salad dressings and Italian dressing is no exception. Before I transitioned to healthier foods, the farm was all that kept me from eating raw broccoli. Thankfully my journey into real food brought me back to love all kinds of salads even without much clothing.
A green salad doesn't need much dressing when it's fresh at home and full of dried herbs and spices. A simple homemade dressing takes an ordinary salad to a whole different level.
And it's also worth it from a health point of view. Most store-bought clothing is dangerous vegetable oils (high in omega-6, which we already get too much of in the American diet), MSG and preservatives.
Homemade Italian dressing only takes 2 or 3 minutes to mix up. Plus there are healthy, real ingredients like olive oil, fresh garlic and dried or fresh herbs. I also love that it keeps well for weeks at a time. It's a win-win!
Italian salad dressing in the kitchen
This homemade salad dressing is one of my favorite vinaigrettes. Not only is it a great addition to almost any salad, but it also serves as a simple marinade for most meats. And not just meat… marinate fresh vegetables for an hour or two and then grill them! The smoky flavors of the grill and the herbal aromas in the sauce combine perfectly for a complex blend of flavors.
I like to use the leftover dressing in a big salad with some chicken for a quick lunch or as a condiment alternative for dipping raw vegetables. The healthy oils give an energy boost and the taste is amazing! You can also use it to make Italian pasta salad along with some black olives, parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes for delicious Mediterranean flavor.
Not a fan of Italian clothing? You can also check out more of my favorite DIY alternatives bottled sauce in this post.
How to make and store homemade Italian dressing
This sauce will last about 2 weeks in the fridge, but I suggest making it in small batches as needed as the flavor is definitely best in the first few days. Sometimes I'll double the band if I'm doing it for a crowd.
For a great shortcut, make a batch of household products Italian seasoning blend to replace thyme, basil and oregano. Simply use 1 ½ teaspoons of the Italian seasoning blend instead of the herbs listed in the recipe. Then it is easy to make this recipe from memory. You may not even need to measure after a few practice runs!
They make shaker bottles for homemade dressing, but I prefer a glass jar. I want these tops to give any mason jar a spout.
Substitutions of ingredients
I use white wine vinegar here, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or red wine vinegar. They all add some acidity to balance the olive oil. I prefer the milder flavor or white wine vinegar in this recipe.
This recipe calls for all dried herbs, but you can use fresh if you like. And I use fresh garlic, but some garlic powder will work if that's what you have. Check out the recipe below for some favorite salads with Italian dressing.
Italian dressing recipe at home
A better-for-you Italian salad recipe without the highly processed vegetable oils! This also works well as a marinade.
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Combine all the ingredients in a small mason jar, close the lid tightly and shake vigorously. Serve immediately.
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You can also use an immersion blender for easier mixing.
Nutrition facts
Italian dressing recipe at home
Amount per serving (2 tablespoons)
Calories 127
Calories from fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14 g22%
Saturated fat 2 g13%
Unsaturated fat 1 g
Monounsaturated fat 10 g
Sodium 306 mg13%
potassium 26 mg1%
Carbohydrates 1 g0%
Fiber 0.4 g2%
Sugar 0.1 g0%
Protein 0.3 g1%
Vitamin A 12 IU0%
Vitamin C 1 mg1%
Calcium 16 mg2%
Iron 1 mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. If refrigerated, the coating may harden slightly. That's perfectly fine. This happens when the olive oil is cooled. Just take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature about an hour before using
Salad combinations to try with Italian dressing:
- Classic Chopped Salad – Toss with romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and olives (and some feta if you're in the mood!).
- Spring salad with strawberries – Try Italian instead honey mustard sauce in this favorite spring salad mix with toasted pecans, fresh strawberries and chicken.
- Easy Summer Salad – Drizzle some Italian dressing over thinly sliced cucumbers and red onion with some cherry tomatoes tossed in. Place fresh basil leaves on top.
- Sweet pepper steak salad – Italian dressing is not just for chicken!
For other new recipes using Italian dressing, try my favorite Real Plans meal planning tool!
What is your favorite salad dressing? Have you tried doing it yourself? I'd love to hear about your favorite outfits to rock at home!
