1.20.2012

Fridays with Julie - Knock-Off Olive Garden Salad Dressing


Do you ever eat at a restaurant and wish you could make your favorite dish at home?  Well, this happens to me a lot!  I started searching the internet for some of my favorites and I was amazed at how many recipes I found.  I also use Pinterest.. A LOT and have yet to find a recipe that I didn't love on there.  So, here is this weeks Pinterest/restaurant-inspired dish.

You know that chain Italian restaurant with delicious salad and breadsticks?  Well, they sell their dressing in a bottle - BUT I'm too cheap to buy it.  However, I found a recipe claiming to be just like it and in fact, it was pretty close!  I've made this recipe twice and barely tweaked it at all.  I've used it on salad and pasta salad.  I've served it to my neighbors, church friends and my family, every time it was a success.

Knock-Off Olive Garden Salad Dressing
originally from BareNakedChefSaidSo

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
  • 1/4 cup distilled vinegar
  • 1/8 cup white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian spices
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup  water
  • 1 envelope Good Seasons Italian Dressing
  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender on high until combined, about 30 seconds.  You can also put in a bowl and mix with an electric hand mixer.
  2. Pour into a pourable container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  3. Stir or shake before serving.

To make the salad, I used:
  • 1 head of lettuce,chopped
  • croutons
  • cherry tomatoes
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • parmesan cheese
You may add olives and banana peppers if you want a more authentic copy of that famous salad.  I poured all of the dressing on the salad and mixed it up right before serving.

I made pasta salad with this dressing also but I didn't take a picture - sorry :(

For the pasta salad, I used:
  • 1 small box whole wheat pasta noodles
  • mini pepperonis
  • yellow bell pepper
  • red onion
  • cucumbers
  • mozzarella cheese

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