Homemade salad dressing is so full of flavor, you won't want to go back to store bought dressing! Homemade Italian Dressing with spices and seasonings will be a delight to put on your salads.
A salad dressing made from scratch is just what your salad is wanting. There are many salad dressings I buy from the store that I enjoy, but there is also something about a homemade dressing that takes it up a notch.
Especially when it is so easy to make. This Homemade Italian Dressing is so flavorful and it is mixed up in a canning jar! (Or any container you have!)
Use this homemade dressing on your Italian pasta salads too like this Italian Tortellini Salad.
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Ingredients
- Extra virgin olive oil - do not use vegetable oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Water
- Honey - you can use sugar instead
- Lemon pepper
- Garlic powder
- Dried parsley
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Red pepper flakes - only a pinch is needed
- Salt/pepper - use caution when sprinkling in extra pepper as the lemon pepper above may take care of all your pepper needs.
Fresh or dried herbs
To make this Italian dressing, I like using dried herbs, parsley, basil and oregano. Fresh can be used in certain dressings, however in this recipe, the dried herbs work the best.
Using sugar or honey
As we have our own honey bees, honey is almost always our first choice verses sugar in recipes such as these. Sugar can most definitely be used, however there are some differences to take note.
Sugar may not dissolve completely when the dressing is being shaken or stirred, which would leave the salad dressing a little grainy.
Honey is best when it is fresh from a local bee farmer. It can be sweeter than sugar so maybe use a little less if you are sensitive to sweet recipes.
How to make Homemade Italian Dressing
This dressing is so easy to make as all ingredients are added together. I use a canning jar to mix and store the dressing but another type of container works well.
A blender can be used to mix the dressing but a good shake in a container with a secure lid works great too!
Be sure to shake the dressing for a least a minute to get the oil to blend well and to help the spices/herbs to mix in well.
Refrigerate
This dressing is best if kept in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you use fresh herbs, it will be best for up to three days. Be sure to give the dressing a good shake before you use it.
FAQ
Either will work!
I recommend only red wine vinegar for this recipe.
No, anything can be omitted. But, it really adds to the flavor and it is only a pinch.
This easy to make Italian Salad Dressing is perfect on salads like Grilled Chicken Salad or other lettuce salads. Enjoy!
📖 Recipe
Homemade Italian Dressing
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Ingredients
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoon water
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¾ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- pinch red pepper flakes
- salt/pepper to taste start with a pinch
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a canning jar, container or a blender.
- Put a lid on the container and shake (or blend) for at least one minute.
- Place in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
- Pour over salad and serve.
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