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Copycat Olive Garden Salad with Zesty Homemade Dressing

A vibrant bowl featuring a copycat Olive Garden salad with crisp lettuce, red onion rings, black olives, croutons, and shredded Parmesan.
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Recreate the famous Olive Garden Salad at home using crisp romaine, fresh vegetables, pepperoncini, and a tangy, zesty Italian dressing. This recipe is quick to prepare and tastes just like the restaurant version.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (9 ounce) bag romaine lettuce mix
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces black olives, drained
  • 8 ounces pepperoncini peppers, drained
  • 2 cups croutons
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • For the Dressing:
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup avocado oil
  • 1/2 cup white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 package dry Zesty Italian Dressing Mix (do not prepare)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dressing: In a medium bowl or jar, combine the olive oil, avocado oil, white vinegar, mayonnaise, dry Italian dressing mix, sugar, and lemon juice.
  2. Whisk vigorously or shake the jar until the dressing emulsifies and mixes well. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
  3. Prepare the salad components: Wash and chop the romaine lettuce if necessary. Slice the tomatoes and red onion. Drain the black olives and pepperoncini.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onion slices, black olives, and pepperoncini peppers.
  5. Toss the salad mixture lightly with about half of the homemade dressing. Add more dressing as needed until the vegetables are lightly coated.
  6. Divide the salad among serving plates. Top each serving with crunchy croutons, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a side of extra dressing for dipping or drizzling.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, make the dressing at least 30 minutes ahead of time to allow the flavors to meld.
  • If you are planning your meals for the week, this dressing is a great component for your meal planning strategy.
  • You can add grilled chicken or shrimp to make this salad a main course.
  • For a similar experience to restaurant-style meal delivery companies, keep the dressing separate until serving.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delicerecipe.com/copycat-olive-garden-salad-zesty-recipe/