Olive Garden Copy Cat Salad

This is a simple salad that is great to make for a large crowd and I promise you people will be asking for the recipe.  At least that has been my experience when I bring this to a group function.  I am not a fan of iceberg lettuce, I prefer romaine lettuce.

This salad is quick to put together and I normally have everything in my pantry.  It's great alongside your favorite pasta and a crusty french bread or warm garlic bread.  As for the dressing, you can now purchase Olive Garden dressing at your local grocery store.  I prefer my homemade dressing which is below.

Ingredients:

1 head romaine lettuce, torn

1 small red onion thinly sliced

1/2 can black olive

2 roma tomatoes sliced (I also like grape tomatoes cut in half)

8 Pepperoncini (or as many as you like)

1/2 cup croutons

Fresh ground pepper

Fresh grated parmessan cheese

Dressing:

1 packet Good Seasons Italian Dressing

1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning

1/2 salt

1/2 sugar

1/4 teaspoons black pepper

1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic

1/2 Tablespoon mayonnaise

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tablespoons vinegar

1 1/2 Tablespoons water

Prepare the Italian Dressing mix per instructions on the package.  To dressing add the additional ingredients and whisk together until fully combined.  

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• 1⁄4

  small red onion, sliced paper-thin
• 6 -12

  pitted black olives
• 6

  mild pepperoncini peppers
• 1 -2

  small roma tomato, sliced
• 1⁄2

  cup crouton
• Italian dressing (or use a recipe for Olive Garden's House Dressing)
• freshly grated parmesan cheese, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste