Description
Bring the iconic restaurant experience home with this crisp and refreshing copycat Olive Garden salad. Featuring a zesty, creamy homemade vinaigrette, this salad is packed with crunchy greens, tangy pepperoncini, salty black olives, and juicy tomatoes. It is a perfect, budget-friendly side dish that is simple to assemble and guaranteed to impress your family with its classic, addictive flavor profile.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 garlic clove, smashed
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
10 ounces American blend salad mix
3/4 cup pitted black olives
3/4 cup pickled pepperoncini
1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
2 plum tomatoes, sliced into wedges
4.5 ounces large seasoned croutons
Instructions
In a blender or small jar, combine the olive oil, mayonnaise, white vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and smashed garlic clove.
Blend or shake vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified and smooth.
In a large salad bowl, toss the American blend salad mix with the red onion, black olives, pepperoncini, and tomatoes.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to ensure every leaf is evenly coated.
Top the salad with the seasoned croutons and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve immediately while the croutons are still crunchy.
Notes
For the best flavor, allow the dressing to sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving so the garlic and herbs can infuse. Add croutons just before serving to maintain their crunch. This recipe is alcohol-free and vegetarian-friendly.
- Prep Time: 15
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 8mg