Description
Olive Garden salad dressing elevates classic Italian-American greens with creamy, tangy goodness. Homemade versions bring restaurant flavors right to kitchen tables, helping cooks recreate beloved restaurant experiences with simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (120 ml) olive oil (or vegetable oil)
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) white vinegar
- 2 tbsps grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsps water (to adjust consistency, optional)
Instructions
- Blending Base: Whisk mayonnaise, vinegar, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth and uniform, creating a creamy foundation for the dressing.
- Seasoning Fusion: Incorporate sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the liquid mixture, thoroughly whisking to ensure even distribution and complete flavor integration.
- Consistency Calibration: Adjust the dressing’s texture by gently adding water if needed, aiming for a pourable yet luxurious consistency that will elegantly drape over salad ingredients.
- Flavor Infusion: Seal the prepared dressing in an airtight container and refrigerate for 30 minutes, allowing the herbs and spices to meld and intensify their aromatic profile.
- Salad Assembly: Generously drizzle the chilled dressing over a vibrant medley of crisp mixed greens, delicate red onion slivers, juicy tomatoes, golden croutons, and briny black olives, transforming an ordinary salad into a gourmet culinary experience.
Notes
- Whisk Carefully: Ensure thorough mixing to prevent ingredient separation and create a smooth, uniform dressing consistency.
- Adjust Thickness Smartly: Add water gradually to control the dressing’s texture, avoiding making it too thin or watery.
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow seasonings to blend and develop a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Customize Easily: Experiment with fresh garlic instead of powder for a more intense flavor, or swap Parmesan for a vegan alternative to suit different dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 175
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 5 mg