Homemade Italian Dressing Recipe (Easy and Full of Flavor)
This Homemade Italian Dressing is bold, garlicky, and perfect for everything from pasta salad to leafy greens. It’s made with olive oil, vinegar, and a handful of pantry staples—no sugar, no preservatives, just real ingredients you can whisk up in minutes.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil extra virgin
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 1 shallot finely chopped
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes optional, for heat
Instructions
- Add the olive oil, vinegar, shallot, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes (if using) to a bowl or jar.
- Whisk or shake until well combined and emulsified.
- Use immediately or refrigerate in a sealed jar for up to 1 week. Shake before using.
Notes
Yield: This recipe yields about 1/2 cup dressing, or 8 tablespoons.
- ½ cup dressing will coat about 6 to 8 cups of salad greens or chopped veggies for a light-to-medium coating.
- For pasta salad, ½ cup is enough for around 3 to 4 cups of cooked pasta with add-ins like veggies and herbs.
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- Replace 1 tsp dried oregano with 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
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- Replace ½ tsp dried basil with 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh basil
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- Red pepper flakes can stay the same, or use a pinch of minced fresh chili if you want a fresh-heat option
Nutrition
Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 585mg | Potassium: 41mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg