Best 8 Zesty Italian Salad Dressing Recipes

Creating a zesty Italian salad dressing from scratch is a delightful culinary experience that can transform your salads into extraordinary dishes. With the right balance of tangy vinegar, aromatic herbs, and a hint of sweetness, you can craft a homemade dressing that captures the essence of Italy's vibrant flavors. Whether you prefer a classic vinaigrette or a creamy dressing, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the knowledge and inspiration to create the perfect zesty Italian salad dressing that will elevate your salads to new heights of flavor and enjoyment.

Let's cook with our recipes!

ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING SPICE MIX

Zesty Italian Dressing Spice Mix image

Make two batches of this-one to have on hand for several batches of Italian Dressing and one to use as a seasoning for grilled or roasted chicken! From Down Home with the Neely's Cookbook.

Provided by Sharon123

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 10m

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
1/4 cup red wine vinegar (original recipe called for white wine vinegar)
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons mixed spice (above spice mix)

Steps:

In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic salt, onion powder, sugar, oregano, pepper, thyme, basil, parsley, celery salt, and Cajun seasoning.
Store the spice mix in a tightly sealed container, and use as needed.
To make dressing, whisk together the vinegar, oil, water and 2 tbls. of the spice mix. Enjoy!

ZESTY HOMEMADE ITALIAN DRESSING

Zesty Homemade Italian Dressing image

Forget the bottled stuff: this zesty homemade Italian dressing is easy to make and packed with flavor.

Provided by Jennifer Segal

Categories Salads

Yield Makes 1 ⅓ cups

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

¾ cup extra virgin olive oil, best quality such as Colavita or Lucini
⅓ cup red wine vinegar, best quality such as Pompeian Gourmet or Domaine des Vignes
1½ tablespoons real maple syrup
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
4 small garlic cloves, minced

Steps:

Combine all ingredients in a jar. Seal tightly with lid and shake vigorously to emulsify. Toss gently with the romaine lettuce right before serving. Store extra dressing in refrigerator for up to a week. As the dressing sits, it will separate (and solidify in the fridge), so be sure to shake well before using.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 2 tablespoons, Calories 155, Fat 16 g, Carbohydrate 3 g, Protein 0 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Sugar 2 g, Fiber 0 g, Sodium 151 mg, Cholesterol 0 mg

ZESTY ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING

Zesty Italian Salad Dressing image

Make and share this Zesty Italian Salad Dressing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Laura D.

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 5m

Yield 1 cup, 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

3/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar or 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
2 teaspoons dried minced onions or 1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Steps:

Make the salad dressing by combining all ingredients.
Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake before using.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 185.7, Fat 20.3, SaturatedFat 2.8, Sodium 2, Carbohydrate 1.3, Fiber 0.2, Sugar 0.6, Protein 0.2

ZESTY ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING

Zesty Italian Salad Dressing image

According with the ingredients listed in the bottle, this could be a similar or clone recipe from my own invention.

Provided by pink cook

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 1h5m

Yield 2-3 cups

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tablespoon red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic or 1 teaspoon use 1 tsp. garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried italian seasoning mix, blend or 1 teaspoon use just oregano
pinch ground paprika, for the zesty flavor
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Steps:

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender on low speed for 30 seconds. Pour in a clean jar and chill at least 1 hour to blend all the flavors. Serve over mixed greens or use as a marinade.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 455.6, Fat 36.4, SaturatedFat 2.6, Sodium 1481.8, Carbohydrate 36.1, Fiber 0.5, Sugar 12.6, Protein 0.4

ZESTY ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad image

This is doubly good because the pasta and veggies are marinated with Italian dressing, then drained and a mixture of mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese is added. Super delicious!

Provided by Marie

Categories Onions

Time 45m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

3/4 cup uncooked spiral shaped pasta
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
3 tablespoons thin sliced green onions
1 1/2 cups Italian salad dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/3 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained

Steps:

Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse with cold water and drain.
Place in a bowl, add tomatoes, celery, carrots, peppers, onions and Italian salad dressing.
Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Drain.
Just before serving, combine mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese, then stir in mozzarella and olives.
Gently fold into the pasta mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 293.3, Fat 21.9, SaturatedFat 5.1, Cholesterol 12.2, Sodium 860.1, Carbohydrate 18.7, Fiber 1.9, Sugar 7.4, Protein 6.9

SUBSTITUTE FOR ZESTY DRY ITALIAN SALAD DRESSING RECIPE - (4.4/5)

Substitute for Zesty Dry Italian Salad Dressing Recipe - (4.4/5) image

Provided by mikeimmell

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

DRESSING:
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoons oregano
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon ground basil
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried celery leaves
2 tablespoons mix
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablesppons water
1/2 to 2/3 cup olive oil, canola oil, or salad oil

Steps:

Measure out all ingredients and combine in bowl. Use in place of Zesty Dry Italian Dressing packet. Store in an air tight container or zip lock bag. To make dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons of mix with ¼ cup vinegar, 2 tablespoons water and ½ to ⅔ cup olive oil.

EASY HOMEMADE ZESTY ITALIAN DRESSING

Easy Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing image

Make and share this Easy Homemade Zesty Italian Dressing recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Shelley Lee

Categories Salad Dressings

Time 5m

Yield 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons spicy brown Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons honey
1 (2/3 ounce) package Good Seasonings Italian salad dressing mix

Steps:

Combine all ingredients in a cruet or mason jar with lid. Cover and shake until blended.
Store covered in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 132.1, Fat 13.7, SaturatedFat 1.4, Sodium 32.8, Carbohydrate 2.4, Fiber 0.1, Sugar 2.2, Protein 0.1

ITALIAN DRESSING

Italian Dressing image

This is a satisfying all-purpose Italian dressing recipe. Use this homemade version on salad greens, in vegetable salads or even as a marinade for chicken. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Lunch

Time 15m

Yield 1-1/2 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, halved
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup olive oil

Steps:

Place the first 10 ingredients in a blender. Cover and process until pureed. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 167 calories, Fat 18g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 163mg sodium, Carbohydrate 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

Tips:

Use fresh ingredients: The fresher the ingredients, the better the dressing will taste. This is especially true for the herbs and spices.
Taste the dressing as you make it: Adjust the seasonings to your liking. You can always add more of an ingredient, but it's harder to take it out.
Let the dressing sit for a while before using it: This will allow the flavors to meld together.
Store the dressing in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator: It will keep for up to 2 weeks.
Use the dressing on salads, grilled vegetables, or even as a marinade: It's a versatile dressing that can be used in many different ways.

Conclusion:

This zesty Italian salad dressing is a delicious and easy way to add flavor to your favorite salads. With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a dressing that is both flavorful and healthy. So next time you're looking for a new dressing to try, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!