Italian Herb Vinaigrette

Simple, fresh, and wonderfully versatile, this Italian Herb Vinaigrette is one of those recipes every home cook should have in their collection. Crafted with extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, fragrant Italian herbs, Dijon mustard, garlic, and a touch of honey, it delivers the perfect balance of bright acidity and savoury Mediterranean flavour.

Whether you're tossing together a crisp garden salad, dressing an antipasto platter, marinating chicken, or drizzling it over roasted vegetables, this homemade vinaigrette adds vibrant flavour without preservatives or unnecessary ingredients. It comes together in just minutes and tastes even better after the herbs have had time to infuse.

Once you've made it from scratch, you'll never look at bottled Italian dressing the same way again.

Italian Herb Vinaigrette

Makes: ½ cup (approximately 4 servings)

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: None

Ingredients

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 garlic clove, finely minced

• 1 teaspoon honey

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

Step 1

Add all of the ingredients to a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Step 2

Seal the jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until the dressing is well blended and slightly emulsified.

Step 3

Taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, vinegar, or honey if desired.

Step 4

Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. Shake well before each use.

Storage

Store in an airtight mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 14 days.

Allow the dressing to sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes before serving if the olive oil has solidified.

Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: 110

• Fat: 12 g

• Carbohydrates: 1 g

• Protein: 0 g

HerEra Tip

For even more Mediterranean flavour, add a teaspoon of freshly chopped basil, oregano, or parsley just before serving. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a pinch of Parmesan also makes this vinaigrette exceptional over grilled vegetables and pasta salads.

Perfect Pairings

This dressing is delicious with:

• Garden salads

• Mediterranean salads

• Chopped Italian salads

• Antipasto platters

• Mason jar salads

• Pasta salads

• Grilled chicken

• Roasted vegetables

• Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes

• Quinoa bowls