Description
A vibrant, copycat version of the classic Olive Garden side salad—crisp greens tossed with briny olives, tangy peppers, zesty onion, and a perfectly seasoned Italian dressing. Ready in just 10 minutes, this salad elevates your appetizer game with bold, authentic flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 bag Fresh Express Salad Kit, American variety (Includes lettuce mix and croutons)
- 1/2 cup Green olives (Sliced; reserve 1 Tbsp olive juice)
- 1/2 cup Banana pepper rings (Reserve 2 Tbsp pepper juice)
- 1 small Red onion (Sliced thin)
- 8-10 Pepperoncini peppers (Whole or halved)
- 1 bottle Wishbone Zesty Robusto Italian Dressing
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Celery seed
- 2 tsp Dried oregano
- 2 tsp Tomato powder (optional)
- 1/4 cup Powdered Parmesan cheese (Plus 2 Tbsp for topping)
- 1 chunk Parmesan cheese (For shaving over salad)
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried parsley
Instructions
Prep the Vegetables & Olives:
- Empty the salad kit into a large bowl. Add the sliced red onion, green olives (with 1 Tbsp reserved juice), banana pepper rings (with 2 Tbsp reserved juice), and the peperoncini peppers.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the Wishbone Zesty Robusto Italian dressing with the reserved olive and pepper juices. Whisk in black pepper, celery seed, dried oregano, tomato powder (if using), and the 1/4 cup powdered Parmesan until well blended.
Toss the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
Finish & Serve:
- Shave the chunk of Parmesan cheese over the top using a vegetable peeler. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 Tbsp powdered Parmesan and dried parsley.
- Serve immediately alongside breadsticks or as a refreshing starter.
Notes
- For extra crispness, chill all ingredients ahead of time.
- Adjust the heat by varying the amount of reserved pepper juice.
- This salad holds well for up to 1 hour in the fridge—just give it a quick toss before serving again.
- Add a handful of cherry tomatoes or cucumber slices for more color and crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Salad
- Cuisine: Copycat Recipes, Italian‑American
Nutrition
- Calories: 220
