Name: Olive Garden Salad Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 8 ounces romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped; 1/2 cup black olives; 2 large Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced; 1/4 of a large red onion, very thinly sliced; 6 pepperoncini peppers; 1 cup croutons; 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 1/3 cup red wine vinegar; 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon granulated sugar; 1/2 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons full-fat mayonnaise; 1/4 teaspoon salt (optional, for seasoning); 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional, for seasoning)

Description

A fresh and flavorful Olive Garden-style salad featuring crisp romaine lettuce, black olives, Roma tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, and red onion, all tossed in a creamy homemade Italian dressing with Parmesan and crunchy croutons. This easy-to-make salad is perfect as a side or light meal, ready in just 25 minutes.

Ingredients

Salad

8 ounces romaine lettuce, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup black olives
2 large Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced
1/4 of a large red onion, very thinly sliced
6 pepperoncini peppers
1 cup croutons
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Dressing

1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons full-fat mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional, for seasoning)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper (optional, for seasoning)

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Instructions

Make Salad: Chop the romaine lettuce coarsely, then wash and dry thoroughly using a salad spinner or clean towel. Place the lettuce in a large bowl and add black olives, thinly sliced Roma tomatoes, red onion, and pepperoncini peppers evenly on top.
Make Dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients—red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, Italian seasoning, granulated sugar, olive oil, full-fat mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper—in a large glass jar. Seal the jar tightly and shake vigorously until the mayonnaise is fully incorporated and the dressing is smooth. For best flavor, prepare ahead of time and chill. Remember to shake the dressing again before use.
Assemble: Just before serving, pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat the ingredients well. Add croutons and sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top. Serve immediately for the freshest texture and taste.

Notes

Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and texture instead of pre-grated.
Toss the salad right before serving to keep the lettuce crisp and the croutons crunchy.
You likely won’t use all the dressing at once; store leftover dressing in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Italian-American