Simple Italian Salad Dressing

Written by
John Mitzewich
John Mitzewich is a food writer, recipe video producer, and culinary school instructor with more than 20 years of experience in the food industry.
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John Mitzewich
Updated 02/12/21
Italian Dressing
The Spruce
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
182 Calories
20g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 182
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 76mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 8mg 0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Contrary to its name, Italian salad dressing is an American creation, taking up much of the shelf space in the supermarket salad dressing aisle and establishing its place in many kitchen refrigerators. Although there are plenty of store-bought options, a homemade version is much more fresh tasting, easily customizable, and free of preservatives and additives. This Italian salad dressing recipe, which is a simple combination of oil, vinegar, mustard, and seasonings, uses a very easy "shake" method that results in a perfectly emulsified vinaigrette. The tiny dash of Dijon keeps the oil and vinegar mixed together for restaurant-quality results.

Green salads are without a doubt the most common use for Italian dressing, but the blend also makes a terrific marinade for steaks and grilled chicken. Mix it into ground beef for a flavor-boosted burger or drizzle on the filling ingredients before grilling a panini. It also can turn potato or pasta salad into a star side dish when it's mixed with more mustard, olives, and red onions.

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Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Italian salad dressing recipe ingredients
    The Spruce

  2. Combine all of the ingredients in a glass jar with a screw-on lid or another container with a tight-fitting lid.

    Italian salad dressing in jar
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  3. Tighten the lid and shake vigorously for 1 minute.

    Italian salad dressing in jar
    The Spruce

  4. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

    Italian salad dressing in jar
    The Spruce

Tips

  • For best results, refrigerate overnight before using. Shake before serving.
  • The dressing can be stored for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Recipe Variations

  • Feel free to change up the oil; an extra-virgin olive oil will add more richness and flavor, while vegetable oil will make for a more mild vinaigrette.
  • Add crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing to turn up the heat.
  • Bacon and onion powder can be added for a more complex flavor.
  • Add honey to turn it into a honey-mustard dressing.
  • Make a creamy vinaigrette by mixing the oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper with mayonnaise or sour cream.
  • Add grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper for a little extra zest.
  • Substitute balsamic vinegar for the red wine vinegar to make a balsamic vinaigrette.