Italian dressing takes a simple vinaigrette and elevates it with zesty herbs and spices for the ultimate dressing or marinade. Though readily available in stores, Italian dressing can still come with unhealthy additives like sweeteners and salt that counteract the health benefits of the other ingredients. But when you make this recipe at home, you can maximize on the nutrients and adjust the flavors to your preference.
The base of this Italian dressing is extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), a superfood staple that can be added to almost any dish. It’s packed with antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation, decrease the risk of heart disease, and even help protect against cancer. Its culinary pairing—red wine vinegar—is also excellent for heart health and balancing blood sugar levels.
Italian dressing is a versatile dressing to have on hand. Toss with your favorite salad greens, drizzle over lettuce burgers, or use as a marinade for grilled chicken, steak, and vegetables. The possibilities are endless!
TIPS:
- White wine vinegar will also work for this dressing if you don’t have red wine vinegar on hand.
- Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) omissions and substitutions are listed in the recipe ingredients.
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Italian Dressing
- Recipe by: Andrea Dehnke
- Serves: 8
- Meal: Dinner
- Serves: 8
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp black pepper (AIP - omit)
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (AIP - omit)
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions
To a dressing bottle or lidded mason jar, add all ingredients. Seal and shake to combine.
Store up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
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