Your Basic Italian Dressing
Elevate your salads, marinades, and more with this homemade Italian dressing recipe that’s bursting with fresh, zesty flavors! “Your Basic Italian Dressing” combines the richness of extra-virgin olive oil with the tangy kick of red wine vinegar and freshly squeezed lemon juice for a perfectly balanced vinaigrette. Enhanced with aromatic dried herbs like oregano and basil, a hint of garlic, and a touch of Dijon mustard for creamy emulsification, this versatile dressing can be customized with a pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle heat. Ready in just 10 minutes, this easy and wholesome recipe uses pantry staples and allows you to adjust the sweetness and seasoning to your taste. Perfect for drizzling over crisp greens, tossing with pasta, or as a marinade for grilled meats, it’s a must-have for your kitchen repertoire. Store any leftovers in an airtight container and enjoy its vibrant flavors all week long!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 0.5 cups Extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.25 cups Red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 units Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoons Dried oregano
- 1 teaspoons Dried basil
- 1 teaspoons Honey (or sugar)
- 1 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 0.5 teaspoons Salt
- 0.25 teaspoons Freshly cracked black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoons Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoons Water (optional, for thinning)
Instructions
In a medium-sized mixing bowl or jar with a lid, combine the red wine vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, honey (or sugar), Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).
Whisk or shake well until all the ingredients are fully mixed and the honey/dijon mustard is dissolved.
Gradually add the olive oil while continuously whisking, or pour the olive oil into the jar and vigorously shake to emulsify the mixture. The dressing should become creamy and thick.
Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed, such as adding more salt, honey, or vinegar depending on your preference.
If the dressing is too thick, stir in 1 tablespoon of water at a time until the desired consistency is achieved.
Store in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to one week. Shake well before each use as separation may occur.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1115 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 120.3 g | 154% | |
| Saturated Fat | 16.5 g | 82% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 1301 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 11.4 g | 4% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.2 g | 4% | |
| Total Sugars | 6.6 g | ||
| Protein | 0.8 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 39 mg | 3% | |
| Iron | 1.0 mg | 6% | |
| Potassium | 131 mg | 3% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
