Olive Garden Salad Recipe: A Zesty, Copycat Creation
Want to recreate the magic of Olive Garden's famous salad at home? This copycat recipe captures the essence of that irresistible zesty dressing and perfectly crisp vegetables. Get ready to impress your family and friends with this simple yet satisfying dish!
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe focuses on achieving the signature Olive Garden taste, using readily available ingredients.
For the Salad:
- 1 head of crisp romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup of grape tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup of Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- ½ cup of red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup of pepperoni slices (optional, but adds that signature Olive Garden touch!)
- ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, freshly grated (the more, the merrier!)
For the Zesty Dressing:
- ½ cup of olive oil
- ¼ cup of red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon of dried basil
- ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon of salt
- ¼ teaspoon of black pepper
Instructions: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to achieve that perfect Olive Garden salad experience at home.
1. Prepare the Vegetables:
- Wash and thoroughly dry your romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-sized pieces.
- Halve the grape tomatoes.
- Pit and halve the Kalamata olives.
- Thinly slice the red onion. If you're sensitive to strong onion flavor, you might want to soak the slices in cold water for about 10 minutes to mellow them out.
2. Create the Zesty Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Parmesan cheese, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Whisk until well combined and emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You might prefer more oregano, basil, or even a touch of sugar for extra sweetness.
3. Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, halved Kalamata olives, and thinly sliced red onions.
- Gently toss the salad to combine.
- Add the pepperoni slices (optional) at this stage.
- Drizzle the zesty dressing over the salad.
- Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
4. Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve the salad immediately. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese just before serving.
- Enjoy the fresh, zesty flavors! This salad is incredibly versatile. It's delicious on its own, or as a side dish to your favorite Italian meal.
Tips and Variations:
- Make it Ahead: The salad ingredients (excluding the dressing) can be prepared a few hours ahead of time and stored separately in the refrigerator. Add the dressing just before serving to maintain the best texture and prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- Add Protein: For a heartier meal, consider adding grilled chicken, shrimp, or chickpeas to your salad.
- Customize Your Greens: Feel free to experiment with other types of lettuce, such as butter lettuce or spring mix.
- Spice it Up: A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a delightful kick to the dressing.
This copycat Olive Garden salad recipe is a fantastic way to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal without leaving your kitchen. So grab your ingredients and get cooking – your taste buds will thank you!
