Easy to make in just minutes, and using pantry staples you probably already have, you can whip up this Italian dressing recipe in just five minutes.

italian dressing in a jar with lettuce tomato and a ceramic cruet

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Italian dressing is a classic, and so simple to make. No special herbs or spices are needed. It works really well in this Italian Pasta Salad and this easy recipe makes just the right amount for it.

Ingredients

Olive oil
White (or red) wine vinegar
Parmesan cheese (it's okay to use the commercial grated type here)
Salt
Pepper
Basil
Oregano
Parsley
Crushed red pepper flakes
Garlic

Instructions

This recipe makes just over one cup of Italian dressing, and it couldn't be simpler. Use a wide-mouth jar with a tight-fitting lid, then add all the ingredients and shake well. If you have time, allow it to rest for 30 minutes to let all the flavors blend, then give it another shake before serving.

Storage

Because of the addition of the parmesan cheese, store unused Italian dressing in the refrigerator, in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Before serving, take the container out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, because the olive oil will solidify when it's cold.

As a general rule, olive oil (not mixed with other ingredients) should be stored in a cool, dark place, tightly capped. See this short article from the North American Olive Oil Association.

Variations

You can easily leave out the Parmesan cheese, if you like.
The Italian dressing pictured here was made with white wine vinegar, but it's easy enough to swamp that out for red white vinegar in the same amount
Some prefer more vinegar taste in their dressing. After mixing, taste for your acid level preference. Add more vinegar in small amounts and re-taste, because it's easy to overdo it.
If you wish, you can use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder in place of the minced garlic clove.

📖 Recipe