Description
Olive Garden Salad brings Italian-style freshness straight to home kitchens with crisp romaine, zesty dressing, and signature crunch. Grated parmesan and crunchy croutons complete this classic side dish that connects home cooks with restaurant-quality flavors you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Base:
- 8 cups chopped lettuce
- 1/4 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1/4 cup carrots, julienne
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 2 roma tomatoes, sliced
- 1/3 cup pepperoncinis
- 1 cup croutons
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (177 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup (79 milliliters) white vinegar
- 1/4 cup (59 milliliters) water
- 1 packet (0.7 ounces/20 grams) Zesty Italian Dressing Mix
- 1 tablespoon grated Romano cheese
- 1 1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Seasoning and Spices:
- 3 teaspoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Craft the vibrant dressing by whisking together olive oil, Italian dressing mix, white vinegar, water, Romano cheese, sugar, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a food processor or sealed jar until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare vegetables by chopping lettuce into bite-sized pieces, shredding red cabbage, cutting carrots into thin julienne strips, and thinly slicing red onion. Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels to prevent excess moisture.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine prepared lettuce, red cabbage, carrots, red onion, tomatoes, black olives, and pepperoncinis. Ensure even distribution of ingredients by gently tossing without dressing.
- Remove chilled dressing from refrigerator and drizzle sparingly over the vegetable mixture. Toss delicately to coat vegetables lightly, ensuring each ingredient receives a subtle flavor enhancement.
- Just before serving, sprinkle crisp croutons across the salad for textural contrast. Generously dust with grated Parmesan cheese to elevate the dish’s richness and complexity. Serve immediately to maintain optimal crunch and freshness.
Notes
- Customize the dressing by adjusting vinegar and sugar levels to balance tanginess and sweetness according to personal preference.
- Slice vegetables uniformly for consistent texture and even flavor distribution throughout the salad.
- Chill ingredients beforehand to maintain crisp vegetables and enhance overall salad freshness.
- Prepare dressing in advance and store in refrigerator for up to a week, allowing flavors to develop and intensify.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg