Mega Italian Salad with Olive Garden Dressing
A fresh, vibrant, and satisfying mega Italian salad loaded with crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, olives, crunchy croutons, and a creamy tangy Olive Garden-style dressing. Perfect as a hearty side or a light main meal.
Equipment
- Large salad bowl
- small mixing bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Cutting board
- Knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 large head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup black olives
- ½ cup croutons
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup pepperoncini optional
For the Olive Garden Dressing:
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry the romaine lettuce thoroughly.
- Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
- Add halved cherry tomatoes, sliced red onion, olives, and pepperoncini.
- Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the salad.
- Add croutons just before serving.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, mayonnaise, sugar, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan until smooth.
- Season the dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
- Chill the dressing for 30 minutes if desired for better flavor.
- Pour dressing over the salad just before serving.
- Toss gently until everything is well coated.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Nutritional Info ( per serving approx.)
- Calories: 280
- Protein: 8g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fat: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
