Olive Garden Salad (Copycat)

Directions

  1. 1Prepare the lettuce by soaking it in a salt ice bath (cold water, ice, and about 1 tablespoon of kosher salt) for 10 minutes.
  2. 2Splash the lettuce with a few spoonfuls of pepperoncini brine.
  3. 3Add romaine and iceberg lettuce, red onions, cucumber, marinated tomatoes (with salt, pepper, and sugar), whole black olives, and a few pepperoncini peppers to the bowl.
  4. 4To make the dressing, combine mayo, vinegar, vegetable oil, olive oil, lemon juice, and mustard.
  5. 5Whisk the dressing until smooth.
  6. 6Add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, a pinch of sugar, a pinch of salt, and black pepper to the dressing.
  7. 7Mix the dressing thoroughly.
  8. 8Add croutons to the salad.
  9. 9Pour the homemade dressing over the salad.

Ingredients

  • lettuce
  • cold water
  • ice
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • pepperoncini brine
  • romaine lettuce
  • iceberg lettuce
  • red onions
  • cucumber
  • tomatoes
  • salt
  • pepper
  • sugar
  • whole black olives
  • pepperoncini peppers
  • mayo
  • vinegar
  • vegetable oil
  • olive oil
  • lemon juice
  • mustard
  • Italian seasoning
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • 1 pinch sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • black pepper
  • croutons

Equipment

bowljarwhisk

Tips

  • Soak lettuce in a salt ice bath for 10 minutes to make it crisp and pull out bitterness.
  • Splash lettuce with pepperoncini brine for acidity and tang before adding dressing.
  • Marinate tomatoes with salt, pepper, and sugar.