Parmesan Peppercorn Dressing

Here’s a salad dressing that’s both irresistibly tasty and undeniably simple: making it a new go-to we reach for every time we buy salad greens. Try this Parmesan Peppercorn dressing! It’s tangy and savory, essentially a simplified version of Caesar dressing that’s just as bold with less ingredients. You can whisk it up in 5 minutes: no blender, no zesting of lemons: nothing fussy at all! When we serve this to guests, they can’t help remarking, “What’s in this dressing?” Here are all our secrets.

Ingredients in Parmesan peppercorn dressing

Parmesan peppercorn dressing is a creamy dressing made with Parmesan cheese and black pepper. There are several bottled versions from various brands on the market, but it’s easy to make at home. Even better, you can customize the spiciness of the pepper to taste when you make homemade. Using Greek yogurt to add creaminess helps to cut some calories, making this a healthy dressing to boot. The ingredients for Parmesan peppercorn dressing are:

MayonnaiseGreek yogurtParmesan cheese, finely gratedRed wine vinegarDijon mustardGarlic powderSalt Freshly ground black pepperWater

All you have to do? Whisk together the ingredients in a bowl. That’s it! No blender, no zesting lemons, no fancy moves.

Customize the pepper flavor to taste

The base level of pepper in this Parmesan peppercorn dressing is mild. Follow the recipe below, and it has a subtle pepper flavor. The great thing about this recipe is that you can customize it to taste! If you want a spicy pepper dressing, add more! Here are a few things to note:

Remember that fine ground pepper is stronger than coarse ground. The recipe below calls for fresh ground black pepper from a pepper grinder. If all you have is fine ground pepper in a bottle, note that it will taste stronger than the same measurement of fresh ground pepper. Add pepper to taste. Taste and add more black pepper until you’ve got the spiciness of your choosing. Want it spicier? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix.

Ways to use Parmesan peppercorn dressing

This Parmesan peppercorn dressing is a favorite of ours because of its versatility. A little like ranch dressing, it goes with just about anything! But the best types of salads are those with crunchy green lettuce that can stand up to the rich texture. You can also use it as a dip for veggies, just like ranch dressing! Here are a few ways to use it:

Drizzle on a Butter Lettuce SaladTry it on a Romaine SaladGo for it on a Classic Wedge SaladThrow it on a Simple Spring Mix SaladUse as a dip for veggie sticks, pretzels or potato chips

How are you planning to use it? Let us know in the comments below.

More salad dressing recipes

Homemade salad dressing is the way to go: it’s fresher, tastier and healthier than those storebought bottles! Here are a few more favorite salad dressing recipes to try:

Grab our top 10 Easy Healthy Salad DressingsGo classic with Caesar Dressing, Easy Vinaigrette or Best Balsamic VinaigretteOpt for Cilantro Lime DressingTry Green Goddess DressingGo for Ginger Dressing, Sesame Ginger Dressing or Carrot Ginger Dressing