When I finally learned to make delicious oil-free salad dressing, I often missed creamy dressing recipes. My family, for instance, loves Vegan Ranch Dressing. So I figured if I mastered vegan ranch, why not give creamy Italian dressing a try. Creamy Italian dressing is easy to make, and it tastes much better than any Italian dressing with oil and other preservatives.
In fact, the more dressings I create, the more ideas I get for creating dips, sauces, and dressings. Even though I make a variety of Italian dressings, my new Italian dressing recipe I had a specific salad in mind.
Once I tasted my new Italian dressing on my spaghetti salad recipe, I fell in love.
WHY I MAKE MY OWN DRESSING INSTEAD OF BUYING DRESSINGS
Although making homemade dressing takes time, I can no longer buy store-bought dressing. Even store-bought, oil-free, creamy Italian dressing is loaded with preservatives and sugar. And, once I started eating homemade salad dressing, the bottled version just doesn’t come close to the real deal.
WHAT INGREDIENTS ARE IN CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING?
For those who prefer dressings without nuts, white beans can be substituted for raw cashews. It does, however, have a grainier texture. For that reason, I prefer using cashews in my creamy Italian dressing instead. But, in oder to make this recipe friendly for everyone, there is a substitution in the recipe.
- White vinegar
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Raw cashews
- Fresh lemon juice
- Maple Syrup
- Garlic
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Stone-ground Mustard
- Italian Seasoning
- Water
- Basil (fresh)
- Parsley (fresh)
- Salt and pepper to taste
HOW TO MAKE OIL-FREE CREAMY ITALIAN DRESSING
Another great aspect of this recipe is it all happens in one blender cup, for the exception of the fresh basil and parsley.
Then, I chop the parsley and basil separately and stir it into the dressing. Since this recipe can be either a dressing or a dip, if you wish for a thicker dip, reduce the amount of water to 1/4 cup instead of 1/2 cup. The dressing, however, also thickens when placed in the refrigerator.
Additionally, I suggest adding salt and pepper after the flavors develop in the refrigerator. Because people have different diets, I recommend adding salt and pepper to please your individual tastes.
LOOKING FOR GREAT OIL-FREE DRESSINGS? CHECK IT OUT
- Italian Dressing
- Yogurt Dressing Recipe
- Carrot Ginger Dressing
- Vegan Thousand Island Dressing
- Citrus Dressing for Salads
- Lemon Basil Dressing
- Maple Dijon Dressing
- Vegan Blue Cheese Dressing
- Peanut Thai Dressing
- Ranch Dressing
- Almond Butter Dressing
- Miso Tahini Dressing
- Southwest Dressing
- Vegan French Dressing
Creamy Italian Dressing
Creamy Italian Dressing is oil-free and easy to make. Perfect for any salad, or even as a dip, creamy Italian dressing is one of my favorites.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 Tablespoons stone-ground mustard
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- If you don't have a high-speed, it is recommended you soak the cashews overnight.
- If you have a quality blender, you don't need to soak the cashews.
- If soaking, drain the cashews and add all the ingredients other than the fresh basil and parsley.
- Blend until smooth.
- Chop the parsley and basil separately, and stir into the dressing
- All dressing to thicken int he refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
- For a thicker dip, reduce the water to 1/4 cup.
Notes
White bean alternative to cashews:
Substitute raw cashews with 3/4 cup white beans (drained and rinsed).
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Pompeian Gourmet Organic Red Wine Vinegar, Unfiltered and Unpasteurized, Perfect for Marinades, Salad Dressings and Sauces, Naturally Gluten Free, Non-Allergenic, Non-GMO, 16 FL. OZ., Pack of 6 -
365 by Whole Foods Market, Organic Pure 100% Grade A Maple Syrup, Dark Color Robust Taste, 32 Fl Oz -
Organicville Stone Ground Organic Mustard, 12 oz -
Raw Cashews, 1 Pound – Deluxe Whole Nuts, Unsalted, Unroasted Fancy Snack, Size W-320, Kosher, Vegan, Bulk, A good source of Magnesium, Phosphorus, Copper & Manganese -
Simply Organic Italian Seasoning, Certified Organic | 0.95 oz -
NutriBullet Pro 900 Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer, 9-piece Set
Nutrition Information
Yield
12 servingsServing Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 50Total Fat 2gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 29mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 2g
Nutrition facts may not be 100% accurate.
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Erin
Hi! How long will this keep?
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Erin, it will last 5 days in the refrigerator...if it lasts that long 🙂