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I gotta have a little something, a little sweet, in my vinegar-based dressings. I am a fan of vinegar but sometimes it’s a bit strong for me. That’s where the sweet comes in. It tames that vinegar hit down, but keeps the vinegar flavor. This copycat Portillo’s sweet Italian salad dressing does just that. Super tasty balsamic vinegar meets up with just a bit of sugar, just enough, to make this a wonderfully smooth dressing. With a hint of garlic and oregano, this was the perfect dressing for my side salad tonight.
Shake Before Serving
If you happen to have any leftover of this copycat Portillo’s sweet Italian salad dressing, make sure you give it one heck of a good long shake before serving it. The oil likes to separate from the vinegar. A good shake takes care of that.
I updated the original recipe to specify that you might want to add a bit more sugar and salt than stated. I made the dressing and then gave it a good taste. It needed something, so I added a pinch more of both sugar and salt. I gave it another good shake and tasted it again. Perfect!
Also try my homemade creamy Italian dressing.
Also checkout my always-growing list of the best copycat garden salad dressings and toppings!
Copycat Portillo’s Sweet Italian Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar you might want a bit more
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt you might want a bit more
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into a small container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Shake well and serve immediately.
- If you have any leftover dressing, make sure you give it a good long shake again before serving.
