Summer has arrived, ushering in the delightful season of backyard barbecues. I relish cooking during this time, as grilling transforms from a mere idea into an enjoyable reality—so much more feasible than in the colder, rain-soaked months. This also opens up a world of delicious recipes to explore.
I feel like I use this Zesty Italian Dressing a lot during the summer. It’s perfect for marinading chicken or dressing a side salad. It’s got a little bit of a kick, but it’s not overpowering in the slightest.
I used to think making my own dressings from scratch would require buying obscure ingredients and would be time consuming. But when I realized that we were buying dressings, using them for one or two recipes, and then leaving them to expire in the fridge, I decided I needed to figure out how to make my own. And wow, is it easy. This specific recipe is made with things you probably already have in your pantry and comes together in less than 5 minutes. Perfect for the last minute marinade or pasta salad.
Zesty Italian Dressing
Serves: 4
Prep time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp parsley
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper (½ tsp if you like it real zesty)
- ¼ tsp oregano
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake well to combine.
- Use as a marinade for chicken or as a dressing for salad!
The Soft Simmer 
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