Olive Garden's Salad Cheese: What's The Secret?

Olive Garden's house salad is a beloved menu item, with its crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and onions, plump black olives, and zesty Italian dressing. But what kind of cheese does this popular salad contain?

The answer is Parmesan, with some recipes also calling for Romano cheese. The Parmesan is shaved or grated and sprinkled on top of the salad, adding a salty, savoury kick to the dish.

Some recipes suggest that you can use whichever variety of Parmesan you prefer, while others recommend shaved Parmesan as it stands up well to the other ingredients and the dressing.

Olive Garden uses Parmesan and Romano cheese in their salad

Olive Garden uses a combination of Parmesan and Romano cheese in their signature salad. The salad is a customer favorite, known for its fresh, crisp, and vibrant ingredients. The cheese is a key component, adding a salty, savory element to the dish.

The Parmesan cheese used in the Olive Garden salad is typically shredded or shaved, although grated Parmesan can also be used. It adds a distinct nutty, creamy flavor to the salad. Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese made from cow's milk and known for its complex, savory taste. It is often aged, resulting in a granular texture that is ideal for sprinkling or shaving over dishes like salads.

Romano cheese, on the other hand, belongs to the same family of cheeses as Parmesan but has a slightly stronger flavor. It is also made from cow's milk and has a sharp, salty taste. In the Olive Garden salad, grated Romano cheese is usually sprinkled on top, adding a tangy, pungent note to the dish.

The combination of Parmesan and Romano cheeses enhances the overall flavor of the salad. The cheeses complement the other ingredients, such as lettuce, tomatoes, onions, olives, and pepperoncini peppers. The creamy, nutty, and salty notes of the cheeses balance the crisp vegetables and tangy dressing.

The Olive Garden salad is a classic example of an Italian-style salad, where the combination of fresh ingredients and robust flavors creates a satisfying and memorable dish. The use of Parmesan and Romano cheeses elevates the salad, making it a popular choice among customers.

You can use shaved or grated parmesan

Parmesan is a key ingredient in Olive Garden salad, adding a salty, savoury flavour to the dish. You can use either shaved or grated parmesan in your salad, depending on your preference. Both types of cheese will complement the other ingredients well, but there are some differences to consider.

Shaved Parmesan

Shaved parmesan is a good option if you want the cheese to stand out against the other ingredients and hold its own against the dressing. It will add a nice texture to the salad, but it can be a little more difficult to find in stores.

Grated Parmesan

Grated parmesan is often used in Olive Garden salads in the restaurant. This variety will blend more easily with the other ingredients and the dressing. It's also usually easier to find in stores and more affordable than shaved parmesan.

How to Serve

This salad is best served immediately after preparation, as the croutons will start to soften if they sit in the dressing for too long. If you're preparing the salad in advance, you can leave out the croutons and dressing and add them just before serving.

Customisation

You can also customise the salad to your taste by adding extra ingredients. Some popular additions include grilled chicken breast, garlic butter shrimp, or grilled flank steak. You can also experiment with different types of vegetables, beans, or cheeses.

The cheese is mixed with other ingredients and dressing

The Olive Garden salad is a mix of fresh vegetables, cheese, and dressing. The cheese used in the salad is Parmesan Romano Cheese. The cheese is grated or shaved and added on top of the salad. In addition to the cheese, the salad also includes iceberg lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onions, black olives, pepperoncini peppers, and croutons. All of these ingredients are tossed together in a large bowl.

The dressing is a key component of the Olive Garden salad and is what gives it its unique flavor. The dressing is made by blending together extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sugar or honey, Italian seasoning, garlic, and grated Romano cheese. The dressing is chilled in the fridge for at least two hours before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

When assembling the salad, it is recommended to add the dressing just before serving to ensure the vegetables stay crisp and fresh. The cheese is then mixed with the other ingredients and the dressing, adding a creamy and tangy flavor to the salad. The salad can be served as a side dish or appetizer and pairs well with pasta dishes, seafood, or protein-focused mains.

The Olive Garden salad is a popular choice for those who dine at the restaurant, and many people enjoy recreating this dish at home. By making it themselves, people can customize the ingredients to their preferences and control the quality of the components used. Overall, the combination of fresh ingredients, tangy dressing, and creamy cheese makes the Olive Garden salad a favorite for many.

You can add extra cheese like mozzarella balls or fontina

Olive Garden Salad is a delicious and popular dish, and it's easy to add your own twist. You can add extra cheese, like mozzarella balls or fontina, to give it a fun and tasty upgrade.

The classic Olive Garden Salad is a simple and fresh combination of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, olives, red onions, pepperoncini peppers, croutons, and parmesan cheese, all tossed with a creamy Italian dressing. It's a great side dish and can be made heartier with the addition of grilled chicken.

Now, let's focus on the cheese! While the standard recipe calls for grated or shaved parmesan, you can easily add extra cheese to give it a boost. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Mozzarella Balls: Add some mini mozzarella balls to your salad for a fun and tasty surprise. These small, soft cheese balls will provide a creamy texture and a mild, milky flavour that pairs well with the other ingredients.
• Fontina Cheese: If you're feeling adventurous, try adding cubes of fontina cheese to your salad. Fontina is a semi-soft cheese with a slightly nutty and sweet flavour that will complement the other ingredients beautifully.
• Grated Romano: For a more intense cheese flavour, you can add more grated Romano cheese. This will give your salad a sharper, saltier taste that blends well with the dressing.
• Freshly Grated Parmesan: While the standard recipe calls for grated or shaved parmesan, you can take it up a notch by using a rotary grater to freshly grate a generous amount of parmesan over your salad. This will give it a more authentic, restaurant-style experience.

When adding extra cheese, feel free to get creative and experiment with different types and amounts to find your perfect combination. Remember to serve the salad immediately, as the cheese, croutons, and dressing can make the salad soggy if left too long. Enjoy your cheesy creation!

You can buy Olive Garden dressing from the store

While you can buy the dressing at the store, some people prefer to make their own copycat version at home. This allows you to adjust the ingredients to your taste and control the quality of the ingredients used. The basic ingredients for a copycat Olive Garden dressing include extra-virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar or white vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic, and sugar. You can blend these ingredients in a blender or food processor, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Some people also like to add lemon juice, parsley flakes, and grated Romano cheese to their copycat dressing recipes. The Romano cheese is a key ingredient in the Olive Garden salad, and you can use a handheld rotary grater to get that signature grated texture. Fresh cheese is recommended over shelf-stable cheese, as it tastes better and lasts a long time in the refrigerator.

Whether you buy the dressing from the store or make your own copycat version, the Olive Garden salad is a great option for a hearty side dish or a full meal. You can add grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak to make it a more substantial dish. The salad typically includes iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, black olives, croutons, and Parmesan or Romano cheese. It's a simple yet delicious combination that has made the Olive Garden salad a favourite for many.

Frequently asked questions