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Copycat Olive Garden Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 142 reviews

This Copycat Olive Garden Salad recipe replicates the beloved restaurant favorite with a fresh blend of crisp iceberg lettuce, pepperoncini peppers, ripe Roma tomatoes, black olives, red onion, seasoned croutons, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, all tossed in a tangy and flavorful homemade Italian dressing made from olive oil, white wine vinegar, and herbs.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 6 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
  • 6 whole pepperoncini peppers
  • 4 medium firm Roma tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 cup whole pitted black olives, drained
  • 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1 cup seasoned croutons
  • ¼ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing Ingredients

  • ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ⅓ cup white wine vinegar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp fresh minced garlic
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1½ tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • ½ tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Salad Vegetables: Wash and chop 6 cups of iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Slice 4 medium firm Roma tomatoes, thinly slice 1 cup of red onion, and drain 1 cup of whole pitted black olives. Set aside 6 whole pepperoncini peppers.
  2. Make the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil, ⅓ cup white wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons water, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar until well combined. Add 2 teaspoons fresh minced garlic, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. Whisk again to blend all ingredients thoroughly.
  3. Toss the Salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion, black olives, and whole pepperoncini peppers. Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
  4. Add Croutons and Cheese: Sprinkle 1 cup of seasoned croutons and ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the salad. Give the salad a final gentle toss to distribute them without crushing the croutons.
  5. Serve Immediately: Serve the salad fresh for the best taste and texture. It pairs wonderfully as a side salad for Italian dishes or as a light meal on its own.

Notes

  • For a crisper salad, keep the lettuce chilled until ready to serve.
  • You can adjust the amount of sugar and red pepper flakes in the dressing to suit your preferred balance of sweetness and spiciness.
  • If preferred, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt for a lighter dressing.
  • Whole pepperoncini peppers add authentic tangy flavor; if unavailable, sliced banana peppers can be used as a substitute.
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese instead of pre-grated for enhanced flavor and texture.

Keywords: Olive Garden salad, copycat recipe, Italian salad, pepperoncini salad, homemade Italian dressing, iceberg lettuce salad

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