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    Home » Sauces, Dressings and Dips

    Quick Vegan Italian Dressing

    Published: Jun 10, 2022 by Jim Mee Sha · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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. 

    A jar of vegan Italian dressing with spoon with salad in the background.

    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. 

    Jump to:
    • 💚Why you will love this recipe 
    • 🥗What you will need
    • 📃Ingredients notes and substitutions 
    • 🔪How to make 
    • ✔Helpful tips 
    • 🧀Optional add-ins 
    • 🥦How to serve 
    • ❔Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽Other vegan dressings and condiments
    • 📖 Recipe

    💚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 needed like olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, nutritional yeast, herbs, and seasonings.

    📃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. 

    All ingredients in a jar before mixing on a grey background.
    A jar of Italian dressing on a grey background.

    ✔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 
    Spooning out some vegan Italian dressing with a teaspoon with bowl of salad and teacloth in the background.

    🥦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

    Is Italian dressing vegan?

    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.

    Can I use Italian dressing as a marinade?

    Italian dressing works great as a marinade for tofu, tempeh, chickpeas, and even animal protein like chicken.

    Jar of Italian dressing with spoon with bowl of salad beside.

    🍽Other vegan dressings and condiments

    • A bowl of fresh tomato salsa with spoon with chips, chopped cilantro and jalapenos in the background.
      Chipotle Fresh Tomato Salsa ( copycat )
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    • Bowl of vegan sriracha mayo with butter knife and sriracha beside.
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    • A jar of silken tofu mayo with spoon with lemon halves and salt beside.
      Vegan Silken Tofu Mayo (Dairy-free)

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    A jar of Italian dressing with spoon with salad in the background.

    Quick Vegan Italian Dressing

    Meesha
    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. 
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 3 minutes mins
    Cook Time 0 minutes mins
    Total Time 3 minutes mins
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine American, Italian
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 129 kcal

    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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    *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. 
     
    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. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 129kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 219mgPotassium: 35mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

    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.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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