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Home » Recipes » Salad Dressing

Vegan Italian Dressing (Oil-Free!)

Feb 14, 2023 by Kaitlin · 4 Comments

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A tangy Vegan Italian Salad Dressing recipe that's ready in just 5 minutes! Made with bold flavors and an optional creamy hummus base. Drizzle it over your favorite leafy green salads, pasta salads, or grain salads! (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)

Oil-free vegan Italian salad dressing in a glass jar with serving spoon

This bold & zesty Italian salad dressing is quick and simple!

It's oil-free, vegan, gluten-free, and also naturally sweetened. It's full of bright, tangy flavor and fresh herbs.

Plus you can choose to make it either thin or creamy! (I like the creamy hummus version best.)

Homemade salad dressings are great because you can customize them exactly how you want. They're so much more fresh than store-bought alternatives. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!

Vinegar, mustard, herbs, hummus, garlic, and nutritional yeast ingredients laid out on a tray

Ingredients for Vegan Italian Dressing

For this recipe you'll blend together in a small high-speed blender:

  • Red wine vinegar
  • Hummus: I use my easy homemade Oil-Free Hummus for this recipe, but you can use plain store-bought hummus instead. This creates the luscious base for a creamy Italian dressing.
  • Nutritional yeast: This adds a slightly cheesy, savory flavor to the dressing. Classic Italian dressing often includes parmesan cheese, so I use this instead for a dairy-free cheesy taste.
  • Pure maple syrup: Or you can substitute agave nectar or vegan honey for sweetness. Simply add more if you prefer yours sweeter.
  • White miso: This fermented soybean paste has mild umami flavor. It's delicious in dressings to give it a deeper, more complex flavor. I highly recommend including it, but if you don't have any then simply salt to taste. (And add black pepper if desired.)
  • Dijon mustard
  • Dried Italian seasoning
  • Dried garlic powder: Or you can substitute one clove fresh garlic for a stronger flavor if desired.
  • Fresh parsley: We'll pulse in just a little of this fresh herb right at the end. Either flat leaf parsley or curly parsley works great. I enjoy the added freshness, but if you don't have it on hand, simply omit.
Overhead view of Italian dressing in a blender before blending

Customizing

Vinegar: White wine vinegar is generally the more classic choice for Italian dressing, so you can substitute that if desired. Red wine vinegar has a stronger flavor, but I enjoy it.

Italian seasoning: If you don't have this in your spice cabinet, simply replace with a combination of dried herbs like basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, or marjoram. A small amount of onion powder can be added as well.

Flavors: Fresh lemon juice can also be added in place of some of the vinegar. Or add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like a little heat.

Adding oil: If you prefer to include oil in your diet, then you can add 1-2 tablespoons high quality extra-virgin olive oil to turn it into an Italian vinaigrette.

Don't have a small blender? Add all ingredients to a jar, seal it well, then shake vigorously to combine. Or you can also whisk it together in a bowl. But if you have a blender, I recommend using it so the ingredients & herbs are fully broken down and incorporated.

Overhead view of vegan Italian salad dressing in a glass jar with serving spoon

Serving

Leafy green salad: Drizzle this homemade Italian dressing over your favorite greens like a spring mix, kale, arugula, or romaine lettuce. (This Vegan Italian Chopped Salad is a favorite!)

Wraps: Add it to sandwiches & wraps for a flavor boost! I love it on this Roasted Veggie Wrap.

Pasta salad: Toss it with an Italian-style pasta salad (like this Arugula Pasta Salad or Vegan Italian Pasta Salad). Or create your own with ingredients like onion, green bell pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh arugula, olives, artichoke hearts, etc.

Grain salad: Try it as a dressing for various grain and bean salads like quinoa, lentil, rice, etc.

Storing

Store leftover dressing in a sealed glass mason jar with lid (or other airtight container) in the refrigerator. I find it keeps for about 5-6 days.

Vegan Italian Dressing in a small glass jar with fresh parsley on the side

For more inspiration, also browse all oil-free salad dressing recipes.

Vegan Italian dressing in a glass jar with serving spoon

Vegan Italian Dressing (Oil-Free!)

A bold, tangy Italian-inspired dressing that's quick & easy! Hummus adds a beautiful, creamy texture but you can leave it out if preferred.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
Course: Dressing
Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Italian-Inspired, Oil-Free, Vegan
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
  • 1/4 cup hummus*
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
  • 2 tsp. pure maple syrup
  • 2 tsp. white miso
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning (or more to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or 1 clove fresh garlic)
  • 1-2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except fresh parsley to a small high-speed blender. (I use a NutriBullet.) Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust flavors if desired.
  • Add parsley and pulse once or twice. (Blending too much will turn the dressing green.)

Notes

*Non-creamy version: Omit hummus. Instead blend in 2 Tbsp. water and 1-2 tsp. chia seeds. It will slightly thicken as it sits. (Though I much prefer the creamy hummus version!)
For oil-free: Use my oil-free homemade hummus recipe, because most store-bought hummus contains oil.
Yield: Recipe makes about 1/2 cup dressing (just over).

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts
Vegan Italian Dressing (Oil-Free!)
Amount per Serving
Calories
58
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
2
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.3
g
2
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Potassium
 
128
mg
4
%
Carbohydrates
 
7
g
2
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
2
g
2
%
Protein
 
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
 
101
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
23
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium content: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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If you're enjoying this oil-free Vegan Italian Salad Dressing recipe, also check out:

  • Roasted Red Pepper Dressing
  • Vegan French Dressing

Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating:




  1. Jennifer says

    May 11, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    Liquid gold!! I think that sums it up nicely! This dressing was delicious, and loved the creaminess of the hummus. I had run out of white miso, so used chickpea miso instead, and only had freeze-dried parsley rather than fresh. Even with these changes, this dressing was fantastic! I used it with your arugula pasta salad recipe this evening for dinner. So grateful for your recipes!

    Reply
    • Kaitlin says

      May 12, 2023 at 8:10 am

      Aww, that's very kind. I'm so thrilled you gave it a try and enjoyed. Glad the chickpea miso & dried parsley worked out! Thanks for sharing your substitutions and helpful feedback!

      Reply
  2. Judy says

    March 20, 2023 at 10:02 am

    5 stars
    Tried this and it was spectacular! Love the hummus addition. Will be making again!

    Reply
    • Kaitlin says

      March 20, 2023 at 10:15 am

      So great to hear! Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

Hello, I'm Kaitlin!
I live in Montana and share vegan recipes that are easy and healthy. About Me →

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