Olive Garden Italian Salad (Printable)
Crisp romaine salad with tangy Italian dressing, crunchy veggies, and Parmesan toppings.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
02 - 1 cup thinly sliced red onions
03 - 1 cup sliced Roma tomatoes
04 - ½ cup sliced black olives
05 - 1 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
06 - 1 large cucumber, sliced
→ Toppings
07 - 1 cup large garlic croutons
08 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
→ Dressing
09 - ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
10 - ¼ cup white wine vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
12 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (basil, oregano)
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 teaspoon sugar
17 - ½ teaspoon salt
18 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
# Directions:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, red onions, Roma tomatoes, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, and cucumber slices.
02 - In a separate bowl or mason jar, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, minced garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
04 - Top with garlic croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for the best crunch and flavor.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dressing comes together in under two minutes and tastes brighter than anything you will find on a store shelf.
- It converts salad skeptics because the crunch and tang hit every satisfying note a side dish should.
02 -
- Wait to add the croutons until just before serving because they soften within minutes once the dressing hits them.
- The dressing separates as it sits so always give it another shake or whisk right before pouring.
03 -
- Let the dressing sit for at least fifteen minutes before using so the garlic and herbs have time to infuse into the oil.
- Rub the inside of your salad bowl with a cut garlic clove before adding the greens for a subtle background flavor that surprises people.