Skinny Kitchen’s Creamy Italian Dressing (17 calories a tablespoon)
Dreamy, zesty, fantastic best describes this simple-to-make, homemade dressing! Many of you already love my recipe for The Best Skinny Ranch Dressing (3 Ingredients). This low-calorie Italian dressing uses my ranch recipe as the base. Once made, you add balsamic vinegar, a little fresh garlic, dried basil, and Parmesan cheese. That’s it! Each skinny tablespoon has just 17 calories and 1 gram of fat.
Why You'll Love Skinny Kitchen’s Creamy Italian Dressing
If you're yearning for the rich, tangy taste of creamy Italian dressing without the guilt, Skinny Kitchen's Creamy Italian Dressing, at just 17 calories a tablespoon, is the delicious solution you've been searching for! Imagine drizzling a luscious, flavorful dressing over your salads, marinades, or vegetables, knowing you're making a healthy choice without sacrificing taste. It's the perfect way to elevate your healthy meals, adding a burst of Italian zest without the added guilt. Whether you're watching your calorie intake, following a specific diet, or simply seeking a lighter alternative to traditional creamy dressings, Skinny Kitchen's Creamy Italian Dressing offers a delicious and guilt-free way to enjoy your favorite flavors. Say goodbye to heavy, high-calorie dressings and hello to a creamy, zesty, and wonderfully skinny indulgence!Ingredients For Unpacking the Flavor of Skinny Kitchen's Creamy Italian Dressing
The Best Skinny Ranch Dressing (1 cup): This forms the creamy base of our Italian dressing while keeping the calorie count remarkably low. A well-made skinny ranch dressing provides a smooth and tangy foundation, often utilizing lighter alternatives to traditional mayonnaise and incorporating buttermilk or yogurt for creaminess without excessive fat. Its inherent blend of herbs and spices lays a flavorful groundwork that we'll build upon to achieve that classic Italian profile.Parmesan Cheese, Grated (3 tablespoons): This hard, granular cheese adds a significant punch of salty, savory, and nutty flavor to our dressing. Even in a small quantity, grated Parmesan contributes a distinct umami richness that elevates the overall taste. Its dry texture blends seamlessly into the creamy ranch base, adding depth without adding significant moisture or fat.Balsamic Vinegar (2 tablespoons): This dark, rich vinegar introduces a wonderful balance of sweet and tangy notes to the dressing. Its complex flavor profile adds a sophisticated touch, cutting through the creaminess of the ranch and providing a zesty counterpoint to the savory Parmesan and herbs. The subtle sweetness of balsamic vinegar enhances the overall complexity of the Italian flavor.Dried Basil (2 teaspoons): This aromatic herb is a cornerstone of Italian cuisine, contributing a sweet, slightly peppery, and distinctly fragrant flavor to our dressing. Dried basil retains its characteristic taste and blends easily into the liquid base, infusing the dressing with that classic Italian herb flavor that is both comforting and bright.Small Clove Garlic, Minced (1): Even a small amount of fresh, minced garlic provides a powerful burst of pungent and savory flavor. Its sharp aroma and distinct taste add a crucial element to the Italian profile, complementing the herbs and cheeses. Minced garlic disperses its flavor throughout the dressing, ensuring each bite has a hint of its zesty character.Crafting Guilt-Free Flavor: A Step-by-Step Guide to Skinny Kitchen's Creamy Italian Dressing
Step 1: Prepare the Creamy Base- Whip Up the Skinny Ranch: Begin by preparing 1 cup of your favorite skinny ranch dressing. This forms the creamy and tangy foundation of our Italian dressing. There's no need to chill the ranch dressing before moving on to the next step, making this a quick and convenient recipe.
- Whisk in the Flavor Powerhouses: In a small bowl, combine the 1 cup of prepared skinny ranch dressing with the remaining ingredients: 3 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons of dried basil, and 1 small clove of minced garlic.
- Blend Thoroughly: Use a whisk to mix all the ingredients together until they are well blended and evenly incorporated into the ranch dressing. Ensure the Parmesan cheese and dried basil are dispersed throughout the mixture, and the minced garlic is finely distributed for consistent flavor in every bite.
- Refrigerate to Thicken and Meld: Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or transfer the dressing to an airtight container. Refrigerate the dressing for at least 30 minutes. This chilling time is crucial as it allows the dressing to thicken slightly, enhancing its creamy texture. More importantly, it gives the flavors time to meld together beautifully, allowing the tangy ranch, salty Parmesan, sweet and sour balsamic, aromatic basil, and pungent garlic to harmonize into that classic creamy Italian taste.
- Proper Storage: Once chilled, your Skinny Kitchen's Creamy Italian Dressing is ready to elevate your salads, marinades, and more! Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored properly, this delicious and light dressing will keep well for at least 1 week, allowing you to enjoy its flavorful goodness throughout the week.
Helpful Tips About this Recipe
Makes 1¼ cups (20 Tablespoons total)
Food Facts
A variety of Italian dressing, known as Creamy Italian, consists of the same ingredients in an Italian vinaigrette but with buttermilk or mayonnaise added to make it creamy. Grated Parmesan cheese is the type that comes in a container in the cheese section. It looks like sawdust as opposed to shredded cheese.
Serving Tips
This dressing is great tossed in salads, pasta salad, potato salad, or as a dip for veggies and artichokes. It’s even a wonderful spread for sandwiches like turkey or roast beef. The possibilities are endless.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 1-Blue
WW SmartPoints 1-Green (It’s still 1 point for 2 tablespoons)
WW POINTS PLUS 1 (It’s still 1 point for 2 tablespoons)
Food Facts
A variety of Italian dressing, known as Creamy Italian, consists of the same ingredients in an Italian vinaigrette but with buttermilk or mayonnaise added to make it creamy. Grated Parmesan cheese is the type that comes in a container in the cheese section. It looks like sawdust as opposed to shredded cheese.
Serving Tips
This dressing is great tossed in salads, pasta salad, potato salad, or as a dip for veggies and artichokes. It’s even a wonderful spread for sandwiches like turkey or roast beef. The possibilities are endless.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 1-Blue
WW SmartPoints 1-Green (It’s still 1 point for 2 tablespoons)
WW POINTS PLUS 1 (It’s still 1 point for 2 tablespoons)
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 tablespoon 17 cal, 1g fat, 1g sat. fat, 2mg chol, 1g prot, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 98mg sod, 0g sugar |
Skinny Kitchen’s Creamy Italian Dressing (17 calories a tablespoon)
Ingredients
- 1 cup The Best Skinny Ranch Dressing (3 Ingredients)
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated, see food facts
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 small clove garlic, minced
Instructions
- Prepare the skinny ranch dressing. You don’t need to refrigerate it before making this dressing.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of ranch dressing and all the ingredients. Mix until well blended.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes to thicken and blend flavors.
- Store in a container in the refrigerator. This dressing will keep for at least 1 week.
Nutrition
Serving: 1tablespoonCalories: 17kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 2mgSodium: 98mgBlue Smart Points: 1Green Smart Points: 1Plus Points: 1
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Thank you….Thank you for all the wonderful dressing recipes. I really have had a hard time finding a light dressing that actually doesn’t taste so artificial and sugary. I make your dressing each week. I always have the ranch dressing on hand and then I usually take a cup from that and make one of the other dressings for a variety. It has even gotten to the point where I will even bring the dressing to a restaurant because this dressing is just as good as the full fat and the full-fat ones are not worth the extra points.
Thanks so much for your wonderful feedback Stephanie!!! You are so sweet to let me know. I’m like you…I always have the ranch on hand and create many of the other dressings each week. And, I also bring a small container to a restaurant so I can enjoy a salad guilt-free!
Wishing you all the best,
Nancy