Olive Garden Salad (Printable)
Crisp romaine salad with tangy Italian dressing, crunchy vegetables, 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 - 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 fresh lemon juice
13 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (basil and oregano)
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
17 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
18 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, sliced red onion, Roma tomatoes, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, and cucumber slices.
02 - In a separate bowl or mason jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar, mayonnaise, lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, dried Italian seasoning, minced garlic, sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper until smooth and fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Top with garlic croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately for the best crunch and flavor.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- That tangy, creamy dressing comes together in under two minutes and tastes even better than what you remember from the restaurant.
- It is effortlessly versatile, working as a side dish or a standalone lunch on a warm afternoon when cooking feels impossible.
02 -
- Do not dress the salad until the moment you plan to eat it, because the romaine will collapse and the croutons turn to mush within minutes.
- The dressing separates as it sits, so always give it another shake before pouring.
03 -
- Let the dressing sit in the fridge for at least thirty minutes before using so the dried herbs rehydrate and the garlic mellows.
- Grating the Parmesan on the finest holes creates a powdery snow that clings to the lettuce instead of landing in heavy clumps.