Easy Italian Salad Dressing & Salad

Homemade Herby Italian Salad Dressing Recipe

How to Make Italian Dressing + A Simple Romaine Salad

Italian salad dressing is a classic, many people’s favorite, and now you can make your own CLEAN version at home! Rather than a store-bought Italian dressing with added sugars and other questionable additives, YOU are in control of the ingredients here. Super simple, yet extra fresh and flavorful.

Sure, buying pre-made Italian salad dressing at the store saves some time and is convenient. But, with most pre-made dressings, we have to sacrifice clean ingredients for ‘convenient’ and cost-cutting additives. Not only is this homemade Italian dressing cheap to make, it’s also more flavorful thanks to the fresh herbs and REAL parmesan cheese!

Plus, it’s as simple as adding all of the ingredients into a measuring cup and whisking them together. That’s literally it! With a base of extra-virgin olive oil, it’s loaded with nutritious, anti-inflammatory fats, plus a delicious acidic tang from the red wine vinegar. Combined with the fresh parsley, fresh basil, AND fresh oregano, it’s an herbaceous delight you’ll want to pour over everything!

Of course, this Italian salad dressing is made for salads—like the crunchy romaine, parmesan, and crouton combination I’ve shared below. But, no need to limit yourself to leafy greens and vegetable salads. Pour it over your favorite pasta salad, use it as a marinade for roasted or grilled proteins, or use it as a flavoring in yogurt or mayo to whip up a quick tasty dip!

Italian Salad Dressing Ingredients

⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil*
¼ cup red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp grated parmesan
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp lime juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Note on Oils:

*If you plan to cook with this dressing (i.e. as a marinade), be sure to use a high smoke point oil!

Extra-virgin olive oil has a low smoke point—meaning it will release toxic byproducts when heated above a certain temperature, and it is best used on cold dishes like salads. For cooking, use high smoke point oils like light or extra-light olive oil, or avocado oil.

How to Make Italian Dressing

Seriously, making Italian salad dressing at home can’t get any easier. Add everything to a bowl, measuring cup, or jar for storage and whisk to combine. That’s it!

Serve your Italian dressing immediately, or transfer to a jar or container to store. Stored in the fridge, it should last up to a week or so. Plenty of time to try it out on different salad combinations, pasta salads, or as a marinade!

5 Healthy Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Italian Salad Dressing & Romaine Salad

A delightfully herbaceous and clean homemade Italian dressing made with fresh herbs and savory parmesan.

• Author: Alyssia Sheikh
• Prep Time: 3 minutes
• Total Time: 3 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

Italian Salad Dressing

⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil*
¼ cup red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp grated parmesan
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp onion powder
2 Tbsp lime juice
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper

Simple Romaine Salad (1 serving)

1–2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
¼ cup sliced black olives
¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup sliced cucumber, quartered
¼ cup shaved parmesan
1–2 Tbsp croutons

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a bowl or storage container and whisk well to combine.
• Serve over salad immediately, or transfer to a jar or container to store. Lasts up to a week in the fridge.

Yields 1½ cups

Notes

Note on Oils:

*If you plan to cook with this dressing (i.e. as a marinade), be sure to use a high smoke point oil!  

Extra-virgin olive oil has a low smoke point—meaning it will release toxic byproducts when heated above a certain temperature, and it is best used on cold dishes like salads. For cooking, use high smoke point oils like light or extra-light olive oil, or avocado oil.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
• Calories: 120
• Sugar: 0g
• Fat: 13g
• Carbohydrates: 1g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 1g