Description
This easy homemade Italian dressing is a zesty and flavorful blend of olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and Parmesan cheese. Ready in just five minutes, it’s perfect for salads, marinades, or as a dipping sauce, bringing a fresh Italian touch to your meals with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquids
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil OR neutral vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar OR red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Sweeteners
- 1 to 2 teaspoons honey
Cheese
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
Herbs and Spices
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley
- 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Measure all ingredients into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. This ensures you can shake the dressing well to blend and emulsify.
- Shake and Blend: Shake the jar vigorously until the dressing is well-mixed and emulsified, combining the oil, vinegar, honey, cheese, and herbs evenly.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more garlic salt or black pepper to suit your preference.
Notes
- Use a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid to ensure proper emulsification when shaking.
- You can substitute Parmesan with Pecorino Romano for a sharper flavor.
- Adjust the amount of honey depending on your desired sweetness level.
- Store dressing in the refrigerator for up to one week; shake well before each use.
- For a vegan version, omit Parmesan and consider nutritional yeast as a substitute.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Dressing
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
