Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing

Who doesn’t love Olive Garden’s famous fresh, light salads? Its Caesar Italian flavor is completely guilt-free and light. Even so, most of us don’t get full when the main course arrives because we’re full of salads and breadsticks—it happens to the best of us. Now you can make the same Olive Garden dressing at home.

This copycat dressing calls for ingredients you probably already have on hand. Using mayonnaise for a little creaminess, this dressing pairs perfectly with lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Parmesan, and other spices. Remember to serve this up next time you want to make an Italian dinner. Everything you need to replicate an entire salad can also be found in the recipe. Appetizer!

Do I have to use mayonnaise?

To give this dressing a creamy richness, you’ll need to use mayonnaise. You can omit the mayo and it will still taste great, however, you’ll want to substitute olive oil or plain Greek yogurt for the mayo. Just keep in mind that if you’re using olive oil, it will be more of a classic vinaigrette.

Can I use fresh herbs instead of dried?

Yes. Fresh herbs are almost always preferred – just less convenient. If you choose to use fresh herbs, make sure they are chopped extra fine so their flavor blends perfectly with the oil and vinegar. Because dried herbs are more effective, you will need to use about 3 times more fresh herbs instead of the ones you have tried. So, for every 1 teaspoon of dried herb, use 3 teaspoons of fresh, which is equivalent to 1 tablespoon.

What ingredients are included in Olive Garden Salad?

Olive garden salad is often served as a bed of romaine lettuce topped with red onions, tomatoes, whole peppercorns and kalamata olives. It’s also often served with croutons, and in restaurants they serve freshly grated Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper to add flavor to the table. Check out the list below to see how much you’ll need to make your own Olive Garden Salad at home.

• 4-6 cups chopped lettuce
• ½ small red onion, cut into rings or half sliced
• 1 large tomato, halved
• 8 whole peppers, drained
• 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 1/2 cup croutons (optional)
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Can I make the dressing ahead of time? how long does it last

Yes. You can make the dressing and store it in an airtight container or bottle in the refrigerator for up to four weeks. How long it lasts in the fridge depends on the freshness of the ingredients you use to make it.

If you like this dressing, here are some other salad and salad dressing recipes you might like:

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