Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing Recipe
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One of my favorite dressings is a creamy Italian dressing to top green salads, but sadly Italian dressing is not always vegan. Let’s make this homemade vegan Italian salad dressing instead!
Does anyone else go to olive garden and chow down on their huge green salads with the Italian dressing? YUM. My olive garden order was always soup and salad, mainly for the salad. Now I don’t even have to make the trip since I can make this creamy dressing at home with super simple, wholesome ingredients!
Is Italian Dressing Usually Vegan/Dairy-Free?
Usually, Italian dressing recipes use Parmesan cheese as a key ingredient. This means it is not dairy-free or vegan as-is. By using this delicious vegan salad dressing recipe, you get all the taste of a normal Italian dressing without any of the dairy!
Can I Use Vegan Parmesan Cheese For This Recipe?
Sure you can! If you really miss the parmesan cheese in Italian dressing’s, try out any of these three parmesan vegan cheese brands as a great substitute:
You can also try and make your own vegan parmesan cheese with this simple recipe from Minimalist Baker.
How To Make Vegan Italian Dressing
Kitchen Tools & Appliances
Key Ingredients
Extra virgin olive oil - Although I don’t usually use a lot of oil, I have to admit olive oil is very necessary for this vegan Italian dressing. It gives it a creamier texture and a bolder taste. If you’d like me to work on an oil-free option, let me know!
Red or white wine vinegar - I used white wine vinegar for this recipe but red wine vinegar would work too! You can also use apple cider vinegar here.
Pure maple syrup - Usually honey would be used here but I like to use pure maple syrup in most, if not all, of my recipes. Make sure it is pure and not pancake syrup.
What Is Italian Dressing Used For?
Usually, I use Italian dressing to top big salads, but this dressing is so versatile! You can use it as a marinade for vegetables, vegan meat, in cold pasta salad, bean salad, as a sandwich spread, for stir fry, and in wraps! Another good idea is to use it over this quinoa salad recipe.
My favorite salad to eat with this creamy vegan dressing is a big bowl of greens with cherry tomatoes, red onion, kalamata olives, white beans, and pepperoncini peppers. The best thing about salads is that you can make them completely your own!
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Creamy Vegan Italian Dressing Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Glass dressing bottle or mason jar
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup red or white wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 3/4 tsp garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves minced, if using within 3 days
- 1/2 tsp each dried basil oregano, thyme, and parsley (or italian seasoning)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Simply add all your dressing ingredients to a mason jar or dressing bottle with a cap, close it, and shake well for 15-20 seconds until well-combined. You could also add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend on high for 5-10 seconds.
How Long Can You Save This Italian Dressing In The Fridge?
You can save this Italian dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.
Make sure to use garlic powder as this will keep longer than using minced garlic. Although, if you know you’ll use this dressing within 2-3 days, minced fresh garlic is a great idea!
