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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette

    Published: Jun 11, 2021 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A graphic that shows the lemon dressing being made on top of a finished jar next to a salad.
    A graphic that shows the simple three ingredients needed to make lemon parmesan dressing.
    A mason jar of lemon parmesan dressing is featured in front of a simple greens and carrots salad.

    This light and zesty lemon parmesan vinaigrette is perfect for people who don't like vinegar. The three ingredients come together in a bright and tasty dressing that is perfect with a fresh summer salad.

    A mason jar filled with lemon parmesan vinaigrette sits in front of a salad.

    I've been doubling down on making more veggies and salads for my family this year and doing everything I can to break their obsession with ranch dressing.

    The problem? My kids do not like anything that has too strong of a vinegar flavor.

    That rules out all the healthier salad dressings that are vinegar-based.

    Since olive oil vinaigrettes are really the best option for salads, that has left me trying to find new homemade salad dressings that are easy to make and don't have a lot of ingredients.

    This lemon parmesan dressing was a total winner because:

    • No vinegar
    • Short ingredient list
    • Easy to make!

    But, if your family doesn't mind vinegar and you're more of a lime person than a lemon one, you may enjoy my Asian Lime Vinaigrette.

    What Do You Need to Make This?

    The ingredients for lemon parmesan vinaigrette sits on a counter.

    The ingredients for this homemade salad dressing couldn't be simpler:

    • Good Olive Oil: We're obsessed with Cobrom Estates olive oil these days but you can use any extra virgin olive oil you prefer.
    • Grated Parmesan Cheese: I love real-deal parmesan, freshly grated. But, real life sometimes demands I use the regular Kraft grated kind. Both work great.
    • 1 Fresh Lemon: I highly recommend grabbing an actual lemon, they taste so much better. The acid from the lemon is what helps to form the vinaigrette without actually using vinegar.

    How to Make the Dressing:

    Lemon parmesan vinaigrette in a mason jar sits in front of the ingredients.

    Add all the ingredients to a mason jar. Shut the lid tightly. Shake.

    Honestly, it is just that easy.

    However, if you have an immersion blender, you could also blend it to make it extra thick and smooth.

    Store the dressing in your fridge until ready to use. It may separate if it sits too long, simply shake it up again to combine before drizzling over your salad.

    Lemon parmesan vinaigrette is in a jar ready to dress a salad.

    Recipe FAQs:

    How long does homemade dressing last?

    Homemade dressings can last several days when stored in an airtight container in your fridge. Generally 2 - 5 days is a good time frame to expect but it will depend on the ingredients in the recipe.

    Can dressing be used as a marinade?

    This lemon parmesan dressing would make an excellent marinade for grilled chicken. But if you plan to dress a salad with it, be sure to keep the dressing and marinade separate. Once the marinade has touched raw meat, it can no longer be used to dress a salad.

    Recipes That Pair Well:

    I specifically made this lemon dressing to go with my new favorite salad. Just a drizzle over that crispy rice salad was the perfect finishing touch.

    If your family doesn't enjoy spiced chicken, you can swap either of the chicken recipes for a little protein.

    • Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken on a white plate. Salad sits in the background.
      Tandoori Marinated Chicken in the Air Fryer
    • A serving of crispy rice salad shows green lettuce, roasted carrots, fried wild rice in a white bowl.
      Crispy Wild Rice Salad
    • A roasting pan has crisped roasted carrots sprinkled with seasonings.
      Oven Roasted Carrots
    • An airfryer basket has 7 seasoned chicken tenderloins golden brown and cooked.
      Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer

    If you’ve tried this lemon parmesan dressing or any other recipe on PeanutBlossom.com please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know where you found it in the comments below. I love hearing from you!
    FOLLOW along on Instagram @peanut.blossom as well as on  Pinterest and Facebook.

    A mason jar filled with lemon parmesan vinaigrette sits in front of a salad.

    Lemon Parmesan Vinaigrette

    4.47 from 13 votes
    Tangy lemon parmesan vinaigrette is the perfect salad dressing for simple green lettuce. You can also use it as a marinade for chicken or for tossing with cooked grains for a hearty dinner.
    TOTAL TIME 5 minutes
    PREP TIME 5 minutes
    YIELD 1 cup dressing
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 lemons
    • 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup olive oil
    • Salt & Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Slice the lemons in half and squeeze all the juice into a large measuring cup. Remove any seeds with a spoon or fork and discard.
    • Add the parmesan and olive oil to the cup.
    • Use an immersion blender to mix them until thick and creamy. (See Note)
    • Add salt and pepper to taste.

    Recipe Notes

    Don't have an immersion blender? You can add all the ingredients to a mason jar, seal with a lid, and shake it up like crazy just before serving.
    COURSEPantry
    CUISINEMediterranean
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

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