Olive Garden Salad (Printable)
Crisp romaine salad with Italian dressing, crunchy veggies, and Parmesan toppings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
02 - 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
03 - 1 cup sliced Roma tomatoes
04 - 1/2 cup sliced black olives
05 - 1 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
06 - 1 large cucumber, sliced
→ Toppings
07 - 1 cup garlic croutons
08 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Dressing
09 - 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herb blend (basil, oregano)
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
17 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large salad bowl, toss together the chopped romaine lettuce, sliced red onion, Roma tomatoes, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, and cucumber slices until evenly distributed.
02 - In a separate bowl or Mason jar, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian herbs, minced garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper until the dressing is smooth and fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to coat all of the vegetables evenly.
04 - Scatter the garlic croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing tastes exactly like the restaurant version and you probably have everything in your pantry already.
- It takes fifteen minutes from fridge to table with zero cooking involved.
02 -
- Dress the salad right before eating because the romaine wilts fast once the acidic dressing hits it.
- Taste the dressing on a lettuce leaf before pouring it all over since the salt level depends on your cheese and olives.
03 -
- Soak the sliced red onions in ice water for ten minutes to mellow their bite if you find them too harsh.
- The mayonnaise in the dressing is the secret ingredient that makes it taste like the restaurant version instead of a basic vinaigrette.