A classic everyone should know, the secret ingredient in a truly great Italian Dressing is parmesan cheese. By making this with garlic powder rather than fresh, this Dressing lasts for a couple of weeks (subject to shell life of your parmesan). If you use fresh, it must be consumed within 2 - 3 days.
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Total Time5 minutesmins
Course: Salad
Servings: 11/4 cups
Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Ingredients
Single Batch (1/4 cup, salad for 4 servings)
2tbspextra virgin olive oil
1tbspred or white wine vinegar(Note 1)
2tspfreshly grated parmesan(Note 2)
1tspsugar(any)
1/8tspgarlic powder (or 1 small garlic clove minced, if using within 3 days)
1/8tspeach dried basil, oregano and parsley (or a mix of choice)
1/8tspred pepper flakes(Note 3)
1/4tspsalt
Freshly ground pepper
Big Batch to Keep (1 1/4 cups)
2/3cupextra virgin olive oil
1/3cupred or white wine vinegar(Note 1)
2tbspfreshly grated parmesan(Note 2)
1 1/2tbspsugar(any)
3/4tspgarlic powder (or 2 garlic cloves minced, if using within 3 days)
1/2tspeach dried basil, oregano and parsley (or a mix of choice)
3/4tspred pepper flakes(Note 3)
1tspsalt
1/2tspfreshly ground pepper
Instructions
Place ingredients in a jar and shake well until combined.
Adjust sugar, salt and pepper to taste. For less tang, add more olive oil, for more tang, add more vinegar.
Keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
For the Single Batch, this makes just over 1/4 cup and is enough to dress 3 handfuls of leafy greens.
Notes
1. I like to make this with red wine vinegar because the colour is the same as what's sold in bottles at the supermarket. But there is no difference in flavour whether you use white or red.2. Freshly grated parmesan dissolves better. If you use store bought, it must be a finely grated one, not the course parmesan otherwise you'll have little grainy bits throughout your dressing. Same flavour, different texture!3. This is not so much about the heat, it's about getting little flecks of red in the dressing. Again so it looks like what you buy from the supermarket and get at fancy restaurants!4. Use this to dress a simple leafy green salad, or for a more substantial salad. Also fantastic with steamed and roasted vegetables!