cruet of summer salad dressing and tomatoes, onion, garlic and thyme on a wooden cutting board
Chef Ari Sexner
Recipe by Chef Ari Sexner

Oil-Free Italian Salad Dressing (Perfect for Summer)

Looking for an oil-free salad dressing? Then you’ve come to the right place.

cruet

This Italian dressing recipe is vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and oil-free. That said, you can add a light, neutral flavor oil if you prefer a vinaigrette (we opted for grapeseed oil, but avocado or olive oil will work too).

Not just for summer salads, this yummy Italian dressing is great on wraps, pasta salad, or even roasted veggies. Heck, you can drizzle it on a piece of avocado toast. No wrong answers!

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Oil-Free Italian Dressing Health Benefits

Not only is this an oil-free dressing recipe, it’s also free of all sweeteners. Just whole foods, vinegar (or fresh lemon juice), sea salt, and thyme.

Each ingredient is packed with powerful health benefits:

  • Tomato: Rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Promotes bone, heart, and skin health. Promotes weight loss and fights fatigue.
  • Onions: Packed with nutrients. Helps control blood pressure, may improve bone density and heart health.
  • Garlic: Contains vitamins B6 and C, plus manganese. Strengthens immune system, lowers blood pressure, and promotes weight loss.
  • Thyme: Contains vitamins C and A. Also contains iron, copper and manganese. Natural diuretic, boosts immunity, improves blood circulation.

If you do opt to keep this as a no oil recipe, the end result will be fat-free as well. It may end up being one of your favorite condiments!

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Rate and Comment

Rating

Comments

Daniela

What would the shelf life be with vinegar and oil added?

Oct 17, 2021
Robin Frey
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Hi Daniela, For commercial applications, you would have to follow the health department's rules (which is usually up to 7days shelf life). If you are making this for home, you might get a few more days out of it, just taste it first before you use it 😄

Oct 18, 2021
Samantha

Does this have to be refrigerated or can it be left out at room temperature?

Dec 20, 2020
Robin Frey
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Hi Samantha, Because it contains juice from vegetables, it needs to be refrigerated.

Dec 21, 2020
Charlie Wettlaufer

Love this!

Sep 3, 2020
Amber

Made this yesterday, it was sooo good on my salad. Thanks!

Sep 1, 2020
Ismail Berrada

Can you make bulk and freeze the sauce?

Aug 25, 2020
Ari Sexner
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Hello, Yes, it freezes well, however, the flavor will mellow slightly when being thawed from frozen, so I would adjust with the acidic component if needed after thawed, Also if you are selling it retail to the public it would need some additional verbiage on the bottle, possibly even a frozen and/or thawed date.

Aug 25, 2020