Name: Italian Dressing Mix
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1/4 cup powdered lemonade mix; 3 tablespoons dehydrated minced onion; 3 tablespoons dehydrated minced garlic; 3 tablespoons pectin (Sure-Jell); 1 tablespoon dried oregano; 2 teaspoons dried basil; 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 1 tablespoon salt

Why This Recipe Works

There’s something to be said for the convenience of shelf-stable dried Italian dressing mixes: Just add oil, vinegar, and water; shake; and serve. But most Italian dressing mixes are sugary-sweet and taste of stale dried herbs. We wanted to create an Italian dressing mix recipe that had fresher herb flavor, a bright balance of sweet and tart, and enough thickness to cling to our salad. Just a little dried oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper, along with onion and garlic, gave us the full flavor we were looking for. Powdered lemonade mix, to our surprise, added just the right amount of sweetness and acidity to our Italian Dressing Mix.

Before You Begin

Each batch of dressing makes about 1/2 cup, enough to dress 16 cups of greens and serve 6 to 8 people. Leftover dressing can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Instructions

Whisk all ingredients in bowl until well combined. Store in airtight container for up to 3 months.

To make salad dressing, whisk 1 1/2 tablespoons mix, 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, and 1 tablespoon water in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave until garlic and onion are just softened, about 15 seconds. Cool to room temperature, then slowly whisk in 6 tablespoons olive oil.