Easy Homemade Italian Dressing
This easy homemade Italian dressing is a snap to pull together and lasts for up to a week in the fridge. You can make and store the dressing in the same jar, making cleanup a breeze. If the dressing separates, give it another shake before pouring. If the oil solidifies in the fridge, let the dressing sit at room temperature before shaking and serving. Use this dressing on a chopped salad with romaine, salami, olives, mozzarella, and tomatoes or as a quick marinade for chicken or steak. (Editor's note: The title of this recipe does not align with EatingWell's practices for naming and attributing recipes. However, it gives proper credit to the product that many people are familiar with and will see in stores and on restaurant menus.)
Julia Levy has been working in recipe publishing for almost a decade, but testing recipes for as long as she's been able to wield a spoon.
Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.
Yes, this Italian dressing is healthy! It's made with extra-virgin olive oil, which has heart-healthy monounsaturated fats (MUFAs). MUFAs and herbs—including the herbs in this recipe—have been shown to calm chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is a suspected culprit in many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. And vinegar, another ingredient in this dressing, also offers its own health benefits, including positive effects on blood sugar.
If you're using store-bought Italian dressing, you will want to read the label. Some of them contain added sweeteners and might have more salt than you desire, especially if it's a reduced-fat or fat-free variety. This is because fat adds flavor. If they're removing the fat, they need to make up for the lack of flavor somewhere, and they do so by adding sugar and salt. But MUFAs are healthy fats, so you're better off going for the real deal and skipping the reduced- or fat-free kinds.
Yes, this recipe is gluten-free. It contains no gluten-containing ingredients, such as wheat, barley or rye. And while most store-bought Italian dressings are gluten-free, some might sneak in gluten-containing ingredients. If you're avoiding gluten, it's important to read the label.
Absolutely! If you don't have red-wine vinegar, feel free to use white-wine vinegar. White-wine vinegar is mild in flavor with a crisp, slightly sweet acidity that works well in this dressing.
If you plan to use the dressing immediately, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil.
Yes, you can! Use 2 small cloves of garlic, minced.
This versatile dressing can be used for pasta salad, as a marinade for chicken, pork chops or vegetables before grilling, tossed with roasted potatoes or roasted root vegetables for a tangy side dish and as a dressing for hearty bean salad.
Additional reporting by Carrie Myers and Jan Valdez
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper
Combine oil, water, vinegar, lemon juice, basil, garlic powder, oregano, onion powder, salt and crushed red pepper in a medium lidded jar; cover tightly and shake until smooth and combined.
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week; shake to combine before using.
Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.
* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it's recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.
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