Tangy, zesty, and flavorful, this vegan Italian dressing will be your next favorite condiment! It is effortless to make, fuss-free, and ready in minutes. It is excellent in salads, on roasted vegetables, or even as a marinade.
It is super duper easy to make your homemade Italian dressing! It tastes better than the store-bought ones and is fresher and healthier too, without any additional additives.
All you need is a jar, a few pantry staples, and a couple of minutes to make this amazing dressing.
💚Why you will love this recipe
- A quick and easy recipe that only requires a few simple ingredients
- Tangy, rich, and packed with flavors
- Stores well, making it the perfect meal prep recipe
- Versatile and is highly customizable
🥗What you will need
📃Ingredients notes and substitutions
- Oil - Highly recommend using a good quality extra-virgin olive oil as it has the best flavor and aroma for salads. However, if you are not a fan of the taste, substitute it with more neutral-tasting oils like light olive oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
- White wine vinegar - Can be substituted with red wine vinegar or even lemon juice.
- Maple syrup - Can be substituted with another sweetener like agave nectar, sugar, or brown sugar.
🔪How to make
All you have to do is combine all ingredients in a jar, seal it, and shake until everything is well incorporated. Your vegan Italian dressing is ready to be served!
Alternatively, you could whisk it in a small mixing bowl using a small whisk or fork.
✔Helpful tips
- Adjust the amount of seasoning used to suit your taste. Add more maple syrup for sweetness, wine vinegar for tanginess, and nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavor.
- If you have extra time on hand, let vegan Italian dressing sit for 30 minutes to an hour before serving to allow the flavors to develop.
- This dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The oil will thicken upon refrigerating, so let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes and vigorously shake it before serving.
🧀Optional add-ins
Here are some fun ingredients to add to your vegan Italian dressing to spice things up!
- Red pepper flakes
- Dijon mustard
- Onion powder
- Vegan parmesan cheese
- Finely minced capers
🥦How to serve
- In salads - Toss it into some chopped salad greens for a quick side salad, or you could swap it in for the dressing of protein pasta salad or brown rice salad.
- Drizzle it over roasted vegetables, like these air-fryer Portobello mushrooms.
- Use it as a marinade for tempeh, tofu, or chickpeas
- Serve it as a condiment for Buddha bowls or salad bowls
- Spoon it over some cooked grains like brown rice, farro, or quinoa for an easy side dish
❔Commonly asked questions
Although Italian dressing is typically vegan, sometimes animal products like honey, dairy, and xantham gum derived from animal sources might be added. Hence, it is recommended that you turn and scan through the ingredient list to ensure that it is vegan-friendly.
Italian dressing works great as a marinade for tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, and even animal protein like chicken.
🍽Other vegan dressings and condiments
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📖 Recipe
Quick Vegan Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil (extra virgin preferred)*
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional)
- 1-2 teaspoon maple syrup (optional, or another sweetener)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾-1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- genorous pinch of ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a mason jar.
- Place the lid on, and shake vigorously until all ingredients are well combined.
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate for later use.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of seasoning used to suit your taste. Add more maple syrup for sweetness, wine vinegar for tanginess, and nutritional yeast for that cheesy flavor.
- If you have extra time on hand, let vegan Italian dressing sit for 30 minutes to an hour before serving to allow the flavors to develop.
- This dressing can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. The oil will thicken upon refrigerating, so let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes and vigorously shake it before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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