Simple Italian Salad

I recently made this simple Italian salad recipe to pair with chicken parmesan sliders and fruit salad for dinner. This tasty Olive Garden copycat Italian salad recipe was simple to make, tasted delicious, and paired nicely with the rest of the meal.

Simple Italian Salad

Simple Vinaigrette:

• 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
• 1½ tsp shallot, minced very finely
• ½ tsp mayonnaise
• ½ tsp Dijon mustard
• Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste
• Pinch of sugar, to taste
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Italian Salad:

• 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• Campari tomatoes, quartered into wedges
• Red onion rings, to taste **If the onion is too strong in flavor, soak the rings in ice water for 10 minutes, then pat dry.
• Pepperoncini, to taste
• Black olives, to taste
• Croutons, to taste
• Shaved parmesan, to taste
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

How to Make a Simple Italian Salad

Make the vinaigrette by combining the white wine vinegar, finely minced shallot, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sea salt & freshly cracked pepper, and a pinch of sugar, to taste, in a small glass jar.

Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the vinegar mixture while whisking constantly. Set aside to allow flavors to mingle. Whisk again very well right before serving.

Prepare the salad by placing chopped romaine lettuce in a bowl.

Top with tomato wedges, red onion rings, pepperoncini, black olives, croutons, shaved parmesan, and season with freshly cracked black pepper.

To serve, drizzle some of the well-whisked vinaigrette on the salad, to taste, then toss to coat evenly.

Serve immediately. Enjoy.