The Best Oil Free Italian Dressing

This oil-free Italian dressing recipe and full of whole foods. Unlike store-bought dressing, this Italian dressing recipe is so delicious you will never buy store-bought dressing again.

When I started eating a plant-based diet, I wondered how I would ever enjoy salad dressing again. Then, I discovered how to make various oil-free salad dressings, which my family loved. The more dressings I create, the more ideas I get for creating dips, sauces, and entrees. Even though I make a variety of Italian dressings, I had a specific salad in mind for this new oil-free Italian dressing recipe. 

Jump to:

• Homemade Dressing vs. Store-Bought Dressing
• Ingredients in Fat-Free Bottled Italian Dressing
• Oil-Free Italian Seasoning Ingredients
• Oil-Free Italian Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
• How to Make Oil-Free Italian Salad Dressing
• Recipe FAQs
• Tips
• Other Healthy Dressings and Dips to Love!
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Reviews

Homemade Dressing vs. Store-Bought Dressing

Although making homemade dressing takes time, I can no longer buy store-bought salad dressing.

Even oil-free Italian dressing is loaded with preservatives and sugar.

And, once I started eating homemade salad dressing, the bottled version didn't come close to the real deal. 

Ingredients in Fat-Free Bottled Italian Dressing

For instance, let's look at the ingredients in Wishbone Fat-Free Italian Dressing.

• Water
• Distilled Vinegar
• Sugar
• Salt
• Garlic (dried)
• Soybean Oil (hmm fat-free?)
• Onion (dried)
• Xanthan Gum (Xanthan gum is a popular food additive that’s commonly added to foods as a thickener or stabilizer)
• Red Bell Pepper (dried)
• Spice
• Stevia Leaf Extract (sugar substitute)
• Lemon Juice Concentrate (Real juice + water + preservative and additives)
• Carmel Color (a water-soluble food coloring. It is made by heat treatment of carbohydrates, in general in the presence of acids, alkalis, or salts, in a process called caramelization)
• Sorbic Acid (an additive which is highly effective at inhibiting the growth of mold, which can spoil food and spread fatal diseases)
• Sodium Benzoate (used for pickling and food preservative)
• Calcium Disodium EDTA (a food additive used in food to preserve flavor, color, and texture).

As you can see, a fat-free or oil-free bottle often comes with many other ingredients that aren't very appealing.

As a result, I make my own dressings, sauces, and dips from whole-foods without oil. 

My Italian dressing, for example, is oil-free and simply delicious. 

Oil-Free Italian Seasoning Ingredients

• White Vinegar: White vinegar is highly acidic, very crisp and clean, and totally neutral; essentially, this is the tofu of vinegars.
• Red Wine Vinegar: Red wine vinegar is Quite sharp and tangy, it has smokier notes and a fuller body than you'll find in white vinegar. It also lends a rosy hue to foods
• Fresh Lemon Juice: Lemons have a bright citrus flavor that is very tart, owing to the fruit's acidity.
• Maple Syrup: Maple Syrup provides sweetness to the dressing without using refined sugar.
• Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic whenever possible.
• Red Onion: Red onions are quite like yellow onions in flavor when cooked and slightly milder when served raw.
• Green Pepper: Green peppers are considered the mildest in flavor than other colors. They are prematurely harvested and have an apparent bitter taste and crisp sweetness. Furthermore, they are described as having a green, grassy flavor.
• Stone-Ground Mustard: Stone-ground mustard has a sharp, tangy, earthy, and spicy flavor. Its aroma is refreshing and pleasant, while the texture is powdery or sometimes coarse,
• Basil: I prefer using fresh basil for the best overall flavor.
• Parsley: Again, fresh is best if you have it.
• Italian Seasoning: The blend of herbs present in Italian seasoning usually consists of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram, with other herbs and spices, sometimes appearing.
• Water: Water thins the dressing and acts as an emulsifier instead of oil.

Oil-Free Italian Dressing Ingredient Substitutions

• Apple cider vinegar replaces white vinegar, but add a splash of juice or extra lemon juice to balance the flavors.
• Balsamic vinegar substitutes red wine vinegar in recipes.
• Bottled lemon juice works in a pinch.
• Agave nectar or date syrup is an excellent substitute for maple syrup.
• Replace fresh garlic with minced garlic: use ½ teaspoon of jarred minced garlic in place of each clove; garlic flakes: also called dehydrated (or dried) minced garlic, use ½ teaspoon of garlic flakes in place of each clove, or try granulated garlic: Use ¼ teaspoon of granulated garlic in place of each clove.
• Choose red or yellow bell peppers instead of using green peppers.
• Dijon mustard is similar in flavor to stone-ground mustard.
• A general rule of thumb for the dried-to-fresh herb ratio: Use one-third the amount of dried herb for the fresh herb called for in the recipe. For example, if you're converting fresh sage to dried sage in a recipe that calls for 1 Tablespoon of fresh parsley, use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley instead.
• Make homemade Italian seasoning, or use any bottled version you prefer.
• Choose a store-bought fat-free Italian dressing of choice.
• Try my Creamy Italian Dressing instead of the oil-free Italian dressing.
• Another dressing suggestion is Lemon Basil Dressing, which tastes fabulous with this pasta salad recipe.

Without a doubt, my version of Italian dressing tastes better and doesn't have a bunch of additives and preservatives. However, my dressing only lasts 4-5 days refrigerated, as the bottled version lasts months. 

How to Make Oil-Free Italian Salad Dressing

• Generally, I blend dressings in a blender, but this dressing recipe all takes place in a measuring cup.
• However, the secret to this Italian dressing recipe is using fresh, minced vegetables to create a thick and flavorful dressing. 
• As I said earlier, I used this dressing for my spaghetti salad recipe, and the dressing flavors just popped.
• Allowing the dressing ingredients to marinate for about an hour enhances the flavors even more. 

Recipe FAQs

Tips

• Using fresh herbs gives the dressing a more full-bodied flavor.
• Fresh lemon juice is also preferred compared to bottled juice.
• Combining the two different kinds of vinegar is essential to reaching the depth of flavor.
• Serve this dressing in a pasta salad, Italian chopped salad, Panzanella salad, or Italian farro salad.
• Try this dressing to marinate vegetables for the grill or vegetable kabobs.
• Do not blend the dressing; it should be chunky for the best flavors.

Try this oil-free Italian dressing recipe on a salad, in a pasta salad, or as a marinade for your favorite veggies.

Other Healthy Dressings and Dips to Love!

If you love this oil-free Italian dressing recipe, give us a 5-star review and comment below. We would love to hear from you!

📖 Recipe