Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing and Salad

Introduction

Today on The Stay At Home Chef, I’m showing you how to make Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing. And I’ll even show you how to make the salad part too. This salad pairs perfectly with a delicious side like easy homemade garlic bread recipe with butter and parmesan.

Ingredients for Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

• ○ the juice from one lemon (You should get about a quarter to a third of a cup of lemon juice. It really depends on how juicy your lemon is. We got a third of a cup, which is exactly what we’re looking for.)
• ○ a third of a cup of red wine vinegar
• ○ half a cup of mayo (because Olive Garden Italian dressing is the creamy kind)
• ○ one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
• ○ one teaspoon of dried parsley
• ○ one teaspoon of dried basil
• ○ half a teaspoon of dried oregano
• ○ a quarter teaspoon of salt
• ○ half a teaspoon of garlic powder
• ○ two tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese (optional, to add to your dressing)

Instructions for Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1. To start, you’ll need the juice from one lemon, so slice that in half, and then go ahead and juice those.
2. Then pour that into a small mixing bowl, along with a third of a cup of red wine vinegar, half a cup of mayo, one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil, one teaspoon of dried parsley, one teaspoon of dried basil, half a teaspoon of dried oregano, a quarter teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of garlic powder. This combination of fresh herbs and citrus is also wonderful for a delicious baked salmon with garlic lemon parsley glaze.
3. Whisk this all together.
4. Then once that’s nice and smooth, you’ll carefully pour it into a salad dressing container.
5. That’s it for the salad dressing.

Ingredients for Olive Garden Style Salad

• ○ four to six cups of chopped romaine lettuce
• ○ some red onion
• ○ a tomato or two
• ○ some calamata olives
• ○ some whole pepper chinis
• ○ some Parmesan cheese
• ○ freshly ground black pepper

Instructions for Olive Garden Style Salad

1. Next, I’ll show you how to make an Olive Garden style salad, a perfect complement to a hearty Italian meal like easy homemade spaghetti marinara with fresh basil. Start with four to six cups of chopped romaine lettuce in a large salad bowl.
2. Then we’ll slice some red onion, and you can half this or leave it in rings. Put those in the salad.
3. Then we’ll slice a tomato or two. Get those in with the salad.
4. And then it wouldn’t be an Olive Garden salad without some calamata olives and some whole pepper chinis.
5. Then we’ll sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese.
6. Then you finish it off with some freshly ground black pepper.
7. When you’re ready, pour on the dressing, give it a toss, and you are ready to eat. This fresh salad is the perfect accompaniment to a satisfying main course like easy homemade baked ziti with cheesy meat sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store the salad dressing?

Once prepared, carefully pour the dressing into a salad dressing container and store it in the refrigerator.

Can I prepare the salad ingredients in advance?

Yes, you can chop the romaine lettuce, slice the red onion, and slice the tomatoes ahead of time. Store them separately in the refrigerator and assemble the salad just before serving with the dressing, perhaps alongside a comforting bowl of easy traditional Irish vegetable soup recipe.

Is there an alternative if I don’t have fresh lemon?

You can use bottled lemon juice as a substitute, aiming for about a quarter to a third of a cup to match the recipe’s requirements.

Can I use a different type of mayonnaise for the dressing?

The recipe calls for half a cup of mayo because Olive Garden Italian dressing is the creamy kind. You can use your preferred type of mayonnaise to achieve a similar creamy consistency.