Easy Italian Dressing Recipe - So much better than store-bought! (2024)

FAQs

How to improve bottled Italian dressing? ›

Adding freshly ground black pepper can often be an easy way to up your dressing game, but also freshening up any ingredient listed on the bottle can be useful. An extra dollop of mustard in your Dijon vinaigrette, or pinch of oregano in your Italian dressing can make a world of difference.

Taking the time to make your own dressing is healthier and less expensive than store-bought alternatives. For those who garden, you can use your own ingredients like garlic and herbs for extra freshness. Most dressings are simple and quick to make with a minimal amount of ingredients.

What's the difference between Italian dressing and zesty Italian dressing? Regular Italian dressing and zesty Italian dressing use the same base recipe, but the zesty version has added flavor for more zing.

Rather, the disordered existence of water on one side of the bottle and oil on the other side is more desirable for the water molecules. And that's why you will always have to shake that bottle of Italian Salad Dressing before pouring it on your salad.

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.

Taste (most accurate taste comes by dipping lettuce in dressing) and adjust according to taste. For less acidity- add more sugar, less tang – add more olive oil, more tang – add additional vinegar.

Ingredients. Soybean Oil, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Sugar, Salt, Contains Less Than 2% Of Garlic,* Xanthan Gum, Onion,* Red Bell Pepper,* Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene And Oleoresin Paprika (Color).

Cheese: gorgonzola cheese crumbles bring an extra flavor boost to the salad. For the dressing: the AK “house” vinaigrette is made with olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, a little maple syrup, dijon mustard, garlic, dried oregano, salt & pepper.

VINEGAR, WATER, BLEND OF VEGETABLE OILS (SOYBEAN OIL, CANOLA OIL), SUGAR, SALT, GARLIC*, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF RED BELL PEPPERS*, ONIONS*, XANTHAN GUM, SPICE, OLEORESIN PAPRIKA (COLOR), POTASSIUM SORBATE AND CALCIUM DISODIUM EDTA (TO PROTECT FLAVOR).

Avoid using a blender for olive oil based dressings as the rapid mixing will cause the oil to oxidize and turn bitter. A squeeze bottle or a mason jar with the lid secured works well when giving a good shake to mix and emulsify the dressing properly.

What does Italian dressing do to your body? ›

In addition to adding flavor and heart-healthy nutrients to your food, Italian dressing can work well for those on high fat and high-calorie diet. Since it provides a high percentage of calories from fat people on a keto diet for weight loss can also rely on this dressing.

If you use a high quality olive oil (has a higher ratio of monounsaturated fats), it will solidify in the fridge. This is completely normal, so no worries.

And of course, you can always make a flavored ranch by adding in mashed roasted garlic, sriracha (or your favorite hot pepper sauce), barbecue spices, cilantro and lime, and more.

Shelf Life for Opened Versus Unopened Bottles

Unopened: Italian dressing can generally last for 12 to 18 months at peak quality when stored in a proper location. Opened: Once opened, the shelf life reduces significantly. It is commonly recommended to use it within 6 to 12 months for optimal freshness.

If you have access to anchovy paste, a small dose of that would truly brighten up a store-bought dressing with another burst of umami, especially if the dressing neglected to include anchovy to begin with. To make it creamier, you can add an egg yolk, or some opt to use Greek yogurt or mayonnaise for even more zhuzh.