One of the most universally appreciated salad dressings has to be a classic italian dressing. The simple combination of extra virgin olive oil, a good vinegar, some garlic, herbs and a little finely shredded parmesan create a simple, flavorful dressing that everyone seems to love.
I have very early memories of going to the Olive Garden with my parents and having that big salad tossed in their creamy italian dressing being delivered to the table. It was my favorite part of the entire dinner. I would use a breadstick to be sure that I got every drop of that dressing…. good times.
Recently, I started playing with my original italian dressing recipe to make it a little closer to my OG favorite and I am proud to say that I did it. This dressing is fantastic! Flavorful, herby and slightly creamy with lots of parmesan whisked directly into the dressing. This is definitely a dressing worth grabbing a breadstick for, because you are not going to want to leave one drop of it behind.
Let’s get started…
Start by gathering 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup of very finely grated parmesan, 1 finely grated clove of garlic, 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of celery salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes.
The herbs and spices used in this dressing are a very important part to the flavor profile of the finished dressing, but if you are not a fan of oregano, basil or any of the other herbs in this mix, it’s fine to leave them out. If you don’t like a little hint of heat in your dressing, don’t add the red pepper flakes.
This is your dressing, so only add what you know you like. Thats the great thing about making your own dressings, you have complete control over the flavors. This herb and spice mixture is my favorite, but as long as you include what you love, your dressing will be delicious.
Start by combining all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk vigorously until everything is completely combined. The dressing should be a light pale yellow color and all of the parmesan and herbs should be evenly distributed and fully incorporated.
Grab a piece of lettuce or a carrot stick and do a quick taste test to see if you need to add more salt, black pepper or red pepper flakes.
This creamy italian dressing is flavorful, herby and delicious. If you are making it to use immediately, enjoy your dressing, but if you are making this in advance, cover the bowl tightly and chill it until you are ready to use it. If the dressing is chilled, let it come to room temperature and give the dressing a good shake to recombine all of the ingredients before drizzling it over your salad.
This dressing is simple and flavorful, exactly what a classic italian dressing should be.
Buon appetito!
Classic Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of parmesan, very finely shredded
- 1 clove of garlic, finely grated
- 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk vigorously until the dressing is fully incorporated and pale in color
- Taste and add additional salt, black pepper or red pepper flakes, if necessary
- Use immediately or chill in an airtight container
