My Mom’s Legendary Italian Salad Dressing
Homemade Italian Salad Dressing – My mom’s famous recipe that makes everyone exclaim, “this is the best salad I’ve ever had!” Make it today!
Growing up, my mom cooked dinner almost every single night. Take out, pizza, or restaurant outings were rare treats; each night, my mom would make your typical well-rounded dinner consisting of protein, either rice or a baked potato, some type of vegetable, and always a salad.
Back in the ’80s, fancy green mixes weren’t all the rage yet, so we had your run of the mill iceberg lettuce. For awhile, my mom served it with an assortment of bottled dressings to choose from, and then at some point that stopped. She started putting her own Italian salad dressing on the salad… and, it was good. Like, really good.
As far as I could tell, she’d just sprinkle a little of this and a little of that directly onto the salad, mix it all together, and it was delicious. Eventually, extended family members would get a taste of the salad at a family party, and suddenly my mom become “the salad lady”. Everyone loved her unique Italian salad dressing, and to this day, if there’s a holiday or family function, my mom is always asked to bring the salad.
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Two of my best friends from high school still mention my mom’s Italian salad dressing on occasion. “Does your mom still make that same salad? That’s the best dressing I’ve ever had!” A cousin of mine got married a few years ago, and when the invitations arrived for his fiancé’s bridal shower, they included a blank recipe card and everyone was asked to bring a favorite recipe to share. My mom’s invitation had a special request from the bride: “Aunt Marie, Could you please give me your salad dressing recipe?” it read. When I make a salad, my Chief Culinary Consultant routinely asks, “Is that your mom’s salad dressing?”
When I asked my mom if she got the recipe somewhere, she said she hadn’t, and that she had gotten bored with bottled dressing and just started making her own, throwing in things she liked. The recipe is really quite simple, and you can use more of less of any ingredient based on your own taste preferences. I personally love a ton of fresh cracked black pepper in my salad, so I always add a lot more. When I’m being extra good with my eating habits, I omit the sugar entirely. My dad always sprinkled much more Romano cheese into his salad bowl. You should also feel free to use your favorite type of vinegar; I’m partial to salad vinegar, but my mom has made this with red wine vinegar, balsamic, and even rice wine vinegar if that’s all she has in the pantry.
When my mom makes her dressing, she never, ever makes it in a container, rather directly on the salad, sprinkling and drizzling everything right on, then mixing it together. She began teaching my sister and I how to make it when we were in our early teens, and after awhile, you just sort of get a feel for it. It took me quite a bit of time measuring and adjusting, then measuring and adjusting some more, to get the right ratios here. Use this as a starting point for adding or subtracting to make it your most loved salad dressing!
Our family’s favorite salad dressing, from my mom, with love :)
UPDATE: A video of my Mom’s Legendary Italian Salad Dressing for you!
One year ago: Chipotle Chicken and Corn Chowder
Two years ago: Peanut Butter Blondies
Three years ago: Apple & Cheddar Pupcakes for Einstein’s 4th Birthday!
Four years ago: Dog Birthday Cake
Six years ago: Hidden Berry Cream Cheese Torte
Mom's Legendary Italian Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (72 ml) olive oil
- 3½ tablespoons (3.5 tablespoons) vinegar, suggestions: salad, red wine, or balsamic
- 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon (0.75 teaspoon) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a salad shaker, mason jar or other container. Close with a tight-fitting lid and shake for about 10 seconds to combine. Drizzle over salad and serve! Leftover dressing can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
I’m vegetarian. I do eat cheese, but it has to be made without animal rennet. I haven’t ever had or bought romano cheese ( I’m assuming it’s similar to parmesan which I’ve never found a vegetarian-suitable variety). What could I use instead of the romano cheese in the salad dressing? Sounds yummy, btw. Can’t wait to make it! Thanks for your time. :-)
Hi Traci, You could just omit the cheese, there really wouldn’t be a substitution for it.
Great dressing! I added 1-2 T fresh lemon juice and it was very tasty!!!
Thank you.
This is a terrific recipe! My family really enjoyed it. Thank you.
I made this, then made it again and again! It is delicious! Thanks!
I made this tonight and put it on a spinach salad. Yum! Thanks for the recipe!
Love the salad dressing. I used white balsamic and added one tablespoon of Merlot wine. I like regular Balsamic and my husband likes red wine vinegar, now we’re both happy.
My variety tasted a little oily. Should I add a little water? Or something else? Or will it taste normal when I actually add it to a salad? (I just tried the dressing on its own)
Hi Dan, I’ve never tasted the salad dressing on its own, so unfortunately I don’t know how oily it would taste compared to being on the salad.
I decided to make it one part vinegar and one part oil and it seems to fit good for my style
I had that same issue…too oily tasting (even when on the salad).
After looking at many italian dressing recipes, I decided on this one, and it did not disappoint!! I did modify it slightly to be more “me” (ACV vinegar and extra, less sugar, and grated garlic instead of powder), but I’m hooked, I’ll never have to buy italian dressing ever again! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
I was recently gifted a gorgeous wooden salad bowl form Crate and Barrel. I decided the best was to put it to good use was to try this dressing recipe. When the kids started saying things like “yum, this dressing is good” and “mom, who makes this dressing, it is so good”….I was so pleased. Hugs BEB to you and your mom!
I’m very big into making week rounded meals as well even if sometimes my husband would prefer a plate full of starches. But when it comes time for his pt test he gets really into salads and finding a sugar free dressing can actually be difficult. I can’t wait to try this for him.
Just made this dressing. It tastes like an old school Italian restaurant dressing. LOVE it’s lightness and flavor. Excellent. A definite regular in the rotation now.
I noticed in the picture it looks like herbs were in this dressing. Did you add some Italian herbs to the dressing or… ? Thanks!
Nope, no herbs, that’s the cracked black pepper!
After reading this post, I bought some salad vinegar and fresh Romano. This dressing is our new family favorite! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for the recipe Michelle. I don’t think I’ve ever seen “salad” vinegar here in Canada. I’m going to have to look more closely the next time I go to the store….or maybe I need a trip across the border to get some. I just LOVE American grocery stores…so much more selection. Good thing I live close enough to the USA.
With this basic recipe you can add cubed chicken, tuna fish, salmon, etc to make other wonderful salads. I like the red wine vinegar idea. I will have to try that out.
I just ate a tossed salad with your Mom’s salad dressing. It was great. Thank you for sharing!
Actually,I have used this vinegar many years ago, probably when I first started making my own dressings. Now that I use so many different vinegars, I guess I just forgot about this one. Thanks for the reminder.
Made this last night and it was AMAZING!!!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!
i would love that chopped salad recipe!
I made this dressing for the salad we had for dinner tonight, and it was a big hit! My husband and I both loved it, and my kids were enthusiastic as well. And let me tell you that they have some strong food opinions! Thanks for sharing this recipe – it will become a staple.
I made this tonight and it will definitely be a staple for us! I’ve been looking for a simple dressing and this one seems like a keeper. I used white wine vinegar and Parmesan and it was just right. I’m going to look for Salad vinegar the next time I go to the grocery though. Thank you for sharing your Mom’s recipe!
Can’t get better than recipes based from generation to generation!
I didn’t have Romano. After reading yor recipie I had to have this salad now. It was ok but I wouldn’t use parmazan agin I think it was maybe more overpowering then Romano..can’t wait to try agin..o and both way my grocery does not carry salad oil either. I used red wine vinaigrette but would like to know if you can recommend a grand of balsamic? So many brands out there.this is my 1st time ever leaving a comment…I love your recipies and your site is very easy to use..I share your recipies and tell everyone about you!
Hi Lynda, I buy Alessi regular balsamic vinegar, and DeLallo white balsamic vinegar (more mild).
I love this post. Kris’s mom is the same way with her dressing. She also does it directly on the salad, and I can never get it right when I try to make it at home. She swears by garlic cloves at the bottom of the salad bowl. I made your dressing today and it is soooo good. Thanks Michelle and Mrs. Norris!! This is my go-to salad dressing recipe from now on :)
Hi Caroline, I’m so glad you liked the dressing! Must be a regional Italian thing :) I hope you and Kris and the girls are doing well! Tell him I said hello!
WOW! just made the dressing. So good!
This dressing looks great. I try not to buy salad dressing because of all the added unneeded ingredients. I like to know what I am eating.
Michelle, thanks so much for this! My Italian mom also just sprinkled ingredients directly over our salads when I was growing up using fresh ingredients, and it always tasted so good. She never bought a bottle of salad dressing. I am sad that I never worked with her to duplicate it before she died. Can’t wait to try this!
This dressing looks so delish. I too grew up with a Mom who cooked every night, so I can appreciate your Mom ditching that nasty bottle dressing for something healthy and homemade!
michelle, your recipes are awesome!!! i especially love the story behind this one. It reminds me of the salad dressing at the olive garden. cant wait to make it. Also happy birthday Einstein :)
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Have you heard of Wishbone Salad Dressings? The Italian dressing was created at the Wishbone Restaurant in Kansas City in 1945. That was a special place that my family went to for birthday dinners a couple of times. They served a cake with a sparkler on it! Lipton now owns the company but still makes the dressing in Kansas City. Just a little salad dressing history.