Is Italian Dressing Actually From Italy?
It's easy to see why one might think Italian dressing is a product of the Mediterranean country best known for its amazing culinary exports. After all, it's right there in the name: Italian dressing. Consisting of ingredients like olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice, as well as seasonings like oregano and black pepper, Italian dressing is a light and zesty way to spruce up salad greens. The recipe can also be enhanced with the addition of sour cream and mayonnaise to create the far more decadent creamy Italian dressing.
While the seasonings used in this recipe are distinctly Italian, the dressing is not a product of Italy like so many believe. A lot of foods that seemingly originated in some far-off destination were developed right here in America, including Cuban sandwiches, English muffins, and French dressing — Italian dressing's Gallic counterpart. While Italian dressing may derive some inspiration from Italian culinary practices, the recipe is a distinctly American invention. One that allowed two restauranteurs to experience immense success.
Dressing that's Italian in name only
Phillip Sollomi is one of two American restaurant owners credited with developing Italian dressing. After returning from World War II, Sollomi opened the Wish-Bone restaurant, located in Kansas City, Missouri. Along with the many other menu offerings was a dressing that Sollomi claimed came from his mother's Sicilian dressing recipe, which entailed mixing oil, vinegar, and assorted seasonings. While the origins of the recipe are disputed, Sollomi's dressing proved to be more popular than his restaurant. And thus, Wish-Bone brand salad dressings were born.
Similarly, Ken's Steak House also lays claim to inventing the Italian dressing that is still beloved to this day. Restauranteur Ken Hanna's wife Florence is credited for creating the recipe, which was used in the Hannas' Framingham, Massachusetts dining establishment. Like Sollomi, Florence Hanna claimed to derive inspiration from her Italian mother's recipe. And like Wish-Bone, the Hannas eventually got into the salad dressing business, which resulted in the creation of Ken's Foods. Now that you know where Italian dressing originated, one burning question remains: How do Italians dress their salads?
What kind of salad dressings are used in Italy?
In general, Italian cuisine is characterized by bold flavors and wholesome, all-natural ingredients. When it comes to salads in Italy, greens are usually dressed simply with salt, oil, and lemon. Diners can also enjoy a vinaigrette, which substitutes the lemon juice with vinegar for an added bit of tang. Along with differences in dressing preparations, there are also variations in how and when salads are served in Italy.
When enjoying salad with a homecooked meal, Italian chefs chop ingredients and add them to a large bowl, from which everyone receives a portion. Salads typically consist of ingredients like leafy greens, artichokes, tomatoes, and black olives. When dining at a restaurant, salad is typically served on the side of the second course, as opposed to being served as a course of its own. In this case, patrons are provided with dressing ingredients and mix them according to their flavor preferences. You can also order a dinner salad in Italy, in which case you can expect additional ingredients like chicken or tuna. When going for a uniquely Italian salad experience, simplicity seems to reign supreme.