This vegan Italian dressing is bursting with zesty flavor! So much better than store-bought dressing, and it can be made in minutes with just a handful of pantry staples.
You really can't go wrong with Italian dressing. It's delicious, a classic, and always a crowd pleaser!
It's one of my favorite dressings (among others like balsamic vinaigrette, Caesar, and ranch), but learned the hard way not to blindly grab a bottle of it at the store and assume it's vegan. Italian salad dressing can contain all kinds of non-vegan ingredients from honey to Parmesan cheese to random milk-based additives (why??).
I don't even bother scanning ingredient labels anymore. I found a better way: I make my own vegan Italian salad dressing! It's almost as easy as grabbing a bottle at the store, tastes better, and I know exactly what went into it!
Jump to:
Ingredients You'll Need
- Olive oil. Use a good quality extra virgin olive oil. It will give your dressing the most amazing flavor!
- Red wine vinegar. You can experiment with other types of vinegar if you'd like, such as white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or balsamic vinegar. Each will alter the flavor of the dressing slightly.
- Dijon mustard. Stick with a creamy Dijon mustard (not whole grain) to give your dressing a smooth consistency.
- Italian seasoning. Italian seasoning is a blend of dried herbs that might include thyme, basil, oregano, marjoram, sage and rosemary. Feel free to mix up your including each of these spices, or buy a premixed one at the store.
- Onion powder.
- Garlic powder. We're keeping things simple by using garlic powder, but feel free to use a finely minced clove of fresh garlic for extra bite if you'd like.
- Salt & pepper.
How It's Made
This dressing is incredibly easy to make! Grab a mason jar with a lid.
Step 1: Place all of your ingredients into the jar.
Step 2: Place the lid on the jar and seal it up tightly. Grab that jar and shake it up! After a few seconds it should be nicely blended and golden in color.
Step 3: Open the jar and taste-test your dressing. You can adjust any seasonings to suit your taste at this point — maybe adding more salt, pepper or Italian seasoning. Close and shake it again briefly if you add anything.
Your vegan Italian salad dressing is ready to go. Grab a salad and pour it all over that bad boy!
Variations
- For an extra spicy Italian dressing, add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
- For a touch of sweetness add a dash of maple syrup.
- For creamy Italian dressing, add a tablespoon or two of vegan mayonnaise.
- For some cheesy flavor, add a tablespoon of nutritional yeast flakes.
Shelf-Life & Storage
Homemade vegan Italian dressing will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for at least a month. I like to store mine right it the jar I mixed it in!
More Vegan Salad Dressings
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Vegan Italian Dressing
This vegan Italian dressing is bursting with zesty flavor! So much better than store-bought dressing, and it can be made in minutes with just a handful of pantry staples.
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- â…› teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
Instructions
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Place all ingredients into a mason jar with a lid. (Note 1)
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Tightly close the jar and shake it vigorously.
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Open the jar and taste-test the dressing. Adjust any seasonings to suit your taste, then close the jar and shake it again.
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Serve.
Recipe Notes
- If you don't have a mason jar you can place the ingredients into a bowl and whisk them vigorously.
- This recipe makes about ¾ cup of dressing.
I recently discovered that one of Newman's Own Italian dressings has anchovy paste in it! I was so surprised! Thanks so much for this recipe.
Oh no! And why?!?! That's one that I rarely think to even look out for.