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

FAQs

How do you make store bought dressing taste better? ›

A really high-quality olive oil, or even a nut oil like walnut or hazelnut, takes everything to a fresh fabulous place. The second thing I sometimes do to bottled vinaigrettes is add some freshness. This might be some chopped fresh herbs, a minced fresh shallot or clove of garlic, or some grated citrus zest.

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.

Honestly, there isn't any difference at all between these two condiments. In fact, Italian dressing is really just one variation of a vinaigrette! This recipe calls for oil and vinegar, along with herbs and spices, just like a basic vinaigrette.

Now, dress your salad as you normally would… but drizzle on some vinegar before you serve. Wine vinegar (white or red), balsamic vinegar, cider vinegar all would work… just not white vinegar that has an acrid taste. Taste… and see if you don't agree that your bottled salad dressing is now 10x better!

The biggest thing to look for in healthy salad dressings is the oil it's made with. For the healthiest salad dressings, you want one made with a good, natural oil like extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. You want to look for bottles that say expeller-pressed, cold-pressed, or first-pressed on the label.

Many dressings also use preservatives like Disodium Guanylate, Disodium Inosinate and Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). These flavor enhancers, along with a thickening agent called Xanthum gum, can cause allergic reactions in some people, including headaches, nausea, bloating and diarrhea.

For most of our vinaigrettes, we prefer extra-virgin olive oil or a flavorful nut oil such as walnut or hazelnut. But these oils will eventually start to solidify in the refrigerator because in cold temperatures, their saturated fat molecules lock together and stop moving, forming crystals.

What does Italian dressing do to your body? ›

Explanation: Italian salad dressing is a type of heterogeneous mixture, also known as a mechanical mixture, because the composition is not uniform throughout. This means that the different components, such as oil, vinegar, herbs, and spices, do not completely blend into a single, uniform solution.

Olive Garden Italian Dressing FAQ

Mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Romano cheese, a handful of Italian seasonings, and you're good to go.

Despite its name, Italian dressing is not used in Italy, where salad is normally dressed with olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, salt, and sometimes balsamic vinegar at the table, and not with a pre-mixed vinaigrette.

The base of Italian dressing is typically olive oil, which provides a rich and flavorful foundation. Vinegar is added to provide acidity and balance the flavors. Common herbs and spices used in Italian dressing include oregano, basil, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

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.

Cut up a lemon, lime, or even a grapefruit into wedges and squirt it over your salad just before tossing. It's like you ordered from a fancy salad bar, without the hefty price. If you're really into tart flavors, you can also grate some of the citrus zest with a microplane and sprinkle it on top of your salad.

Sweetness balances out acidity, spice, and bitterness. A salad composed of bitter greens may benefit from a sweeter dressing. But sweetness can come from sources other than one-note white sugar; consider honey, pureed dates, maple syrup, jam, or molasses as sweeteners that also add flavor and mouth-feel.