Our family makes the best Italian green salad with homemade dressing! It's simple, vegan, gluten free and the most requested recipe when we have friends over for dinner!
I feel a bit ridiculous posting our family's salad recipe. But so many friends rave about it, and I always say I'll share it someday. Today is the day! So, my friends...I give you The Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing.
In my family, we call this "The Salad." Our friends refer to it as "That Sallladdd," while rolling their eyes and swooning. It catches me off guard every time.
Don't get me wrong; it's delicious. I could've called it "Cinderella Salad," though, because it's always there, doing its job.
We have this tossed salad most often, compared to spinach salad or apple mozzarella salad.
And growing up, we had this Italian green salad every.single.day. Back when everybody used iceberg lettuce, this dish wasn't my favorite.
But in the early 1990s, when we figured out iceberg has minimal nutritional value, we switched to tastier alternatives, like romaine and butter lettuce. For the first time in my life, I realized I actually liked this salad but wasn't a fan of iceberg.
Nowadays, I make the salad a couple times a month at my house, but we also have it with every dinner at Mom and Dad's. Sometimes I'll skip the salad, just so I have room to eat all the other courses.
But someone is always eager to take it off my hands (each place setting gets a side salad...just like a knife, fork, napkin and glass.) And, if there's extra salad left over, someone in the family will gladly hug the serving bowl and dig in.
So, what makes this The Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing? Why does it steal the show so often when guests are over?
Maybe it's the white balsamic vinegar. Or the regular —not extra-virgin — olive oil.
Or the fact that there's no oregano. (As I mentioned in my very first post, Homemade Marinara Sauce, we never use oregano in anything, because we find it bitter tasting.)
Or maybe, it's the smooth texture, with every leaf coated just right.
Really, this salad's as simple as can be.
We usually just stand at the counter, pouring and sprinkling ingredients without measuring, relying on our tastebuds to guide us as we go. (Sometimes, I taste so much salad while making it that I don't need to have any more with my meal. #Italianproblems)
But, no worries.
I took the time to figure out the recipe for our homemade Italian dressing — a vinaigrette — so I could share it properly here on Cooking with Mamma C. (Mom didn't think I could do it. I gently reminded her I've been cobbling together family recipes out of vague information for more than two years.)
So, there you have it.
In case you're wondering where to buy the white balsamic vinegar, you can check your grocery or Italian import store. Here's my Amazon affiliate link, if you'd like to order the vinegar online.
Enjoy! And make sure to leave room for the rest of your dinner!
(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C, based on our traditional family salad that's never been documented)
The Best Italian Green Salad with Homemade Dressing
Ingredients
Salad
- 9 ounces lettuce (butter lettuce, romaine or a combination)
- white bottoms of 2 green onions (optional)
Dressing
- 4 teaspoons olive oil (not extra virgin)
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- scant 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Use a pre-washed bag of lettuce or, if starting with a head of lettuce, make sure the leaves are rinsed and dried. Place your lettuce in a large bowl.
- If using the white part of the green onions, rinse the green onions, snip off the root end and slice the white part of the onion thinly. Add the white onion slices to your salad.
- Add the dressing ingredients one at a time and toss with two spoons to mix well.
- Serve immediately and finish leftovers within an hour or so. Leftover salad will get soggy, but keep it refrigerated if saving it.
Nancy
Can you make this dressing with regular (red wine) balsamic vinegar.
Mamma C
Hi Nancy - Yes. It won't be as delicate as the white balsamic, but it should work in a pinch.
Karen
A. I love love this dressing
B. HAVE I lost my mind, because thought the amount of oil and vinegar was different
(I first made this in April 2018
Mamma C
Haha! I'm glad you love this, Karen!
Linda
I think your ratios are wrong on the vinegar and oil
Mamma C
Hi Linda - The recipe is correct as written. This is how we make our dressing, and it's part of what makes it the best! Have you tried it?
Michele
The name of this salad is absolutely perfect because it is "the best!" It is our new family favorite. I can't believe that such an amazing salad can be so easy to make! I've also drizzled the dressing over grilled veggies and they taste even better.
Mamma C
I'm so glad to hear that, Michele! I'm going to have to try the dressing on grilled veggies. Great idea!
Barry Londoff
My kids have salad every day in their lunchbox...can't wait to try this recipe! Thank you.
Mamma C
I hope your kids love this salad as much as mine do, Barry!
[email protected]
I am so in the mood for this salad right now! I can't wait to try your dressing.( And you know we grew up on iceberg with oil and vinegar!) Hope your weekend is great, my friend!
Mamma C
Those days of iceberg, macaroni, and Riunite, haha! Good times. I hope you enjoy this salad, Annie! Enjoy your weekend. xo
Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser
Love, Love, Love salads and have one almost everyday at lunch time! Truly a fav! I too love romaine, bibb, butter lettuce but I have been known to add some iceberg too. Tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, celery oh I love it all. I too always make my own dressings and they are fun to make! Rock on sista! xo
PS Have a great weekend!
Mamma C
Your salads sound wonderful, Cheryl! You've inspired me to try to have salad more often at lunch. Have a great weekend! xo
Julie
I make salads for dinner every night and am always looking for variation. This sounds delicious and easy to make. Thanks!
Mamma C
This will go well with whatever you're making, Julie! Thanks for stopping by!
The Food Hunter
I'm all about homemade dressing and this one sounds wonderful.
Mamma C
It's the simplest of them all...thanks, Theresa!
Kara @ Byte Sized Nutrition
Sometimes a simple green salad makes the meal! I just recently started making my own salad dressings and now I'm not sure I'll ever go back. Love how simple your dressing is and the photos are beautiful!
Mamma C
I haven't used bottled dressing in a few years. Homemade is so easy! Thanks so much for your kind words, Kara!
sue | theviewfromgreatisland
This is such a delicious classic, and I'm ready for some fresh greens after all the comfort food I've been gorging on lately 😉
Mamma C
I know what you mean, Sue! At least we don't have to feel guilty about enjoying this. 🙂