Olive Garden Salad Dressing

[Tiger]

I just got the recipe for the salad dressing the olive garden uses. One of the ingre. is pectin which makes the dressing thicker. Does anyone know where I would find this and what does it look like? I hate going blindly to the market.

[Susan]

Here's what Cook's Thesarus says about pectin:

pectin Shopping hints: Recipes for preserves usually specify what brand of pectin to use. It's not a good idea to substitute one brand for another, since they have different formulas. Some pectins (like Sure Jell and Certo) need acid and sugar to set, some need acid and just a little sugar to set (like Sure Jell for Low Sugar Recipes), some (like Slim Set or Mrs. Wage's) don't need any acid or sugar to set. http://www.foodsubs.com/Thicken.html

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edited to add:
Tiger~
I didn't get to finish before due to a small child in need of parental attention. Anyway...I think pectins like Sure Jell and Certo come in a small box like Jello. I think they may even be found in the Jello aisle or where they sell things used for canning. Hope this helps!

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 12-30-2000).]

[AndreaU]

Tiger, if you wouldn't mind, could you post the salad dressing recipe here? Salad & breadsticks are my "usual" at the OG. Thanks!

[chefandi]

Just wanted to let you know that if you are short on time and don't want to make the dressing the sale it in the restaurant. I have a friend that works there and you can buy it for around $4.

[mary4815]

The liquid pectin is SO good for us. Some people I know believe that by using (Certo) pectin in PURPLE grape juice, not white grape, they have cured their arthritis pain. Whether or not it helps arthritis, it is very good for us.
Sure will look forward to that dressing recipe.

[Tiger]

thanks for all the info! Here's the recipe for those interested:

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

1/2 cup of white vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup veg. oil
1/4 cup of corn syrup
2 1/2 Tbs grated romano cheese
2 Tbs pectin ( makes dressing thicker)
2 Tbs of beaten egg
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried parsley flakes
pinch of dried oregano
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Combine with mixer med speed or blender low speed 30 sec. Chill at least 1 hr.

Salad- iceberg and romaine lettace, shredded carrots, purple cabbage, black olives, roma. tomato, peperoncinis, thin sliced red onions, croutons and parm. cheese.

I haven't made it yet. Let me know how it is it anyone makes it!

[Beth]

Pectin comes in the powdered form in boxes like jello, but it also comes in a liquid form (2 pouches in a box slightly larger and about twice as tall). I have found it on the aisle with baking goods in some stores and around the produce in others, but the store nearest me now puts it on the aisle with food wraps and storage bags, etc., since that is where they have freezing containers and canning jars. Your store will probably have it, but you may have to look in more than one place or ask for directions to find it.

[NancyR]

Tiger...How did you get the recipe? I would think a "house special" would be a closely guarded secret. Also, I can't imagine a restaurant serving a dressing with raw egg. Thanks for posting it anyway, am anxious to try it....perhaps minus the raw egg.

[Tiger]

Nancy-
Go under http://www.topsecretrecipes.com
It's a website filled with recipes you would think were top secret. Alot of the info comes from past employees of the resturants or people who just expermented enough to figure them out. It's a fun website with alot of info! Tiger

[Mitchdoggy]

Re: www.topsecretrecipes.com. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com.) They also had a recipe for Pepperidge Farm ginger cookies. The cookies tasted exactly like PF but the shape wouldn't hold.

What would happen to the dressing if the raw egg were eliminated?

[This message has been edited by Mitchdoggy (edited 12-31-2000).]

[goldilocks]

Here's another website to try: www.copykat.com (http://www.copykat.com) which contains a lot of great restaurant recipes including another version of the Olive Garden dressing without the egg and pection.

Enjoy!

[Tiger]

Thanks Goldilocks! I added that website to my "favorites"

[NancyR]

What a fun website. Thanks for the link.

[Mitchdoggy]

Beth- Yes that's what they tasted like. I didn't make them but someone brought them into the office.

[Beth]

Originally posted by Mitchdoggy:
[B]Re: www.topsecretrecipes.com. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com.) They also had a recipe for Pepperidge Farm ginger cookies. The cookies tasted exactly like PF but the shape wouldn't hold. B]

Do you mean the little ginger men cookies that come in a bag? My son loves those, and it would be fund to try malking them. I made the gingerbread scones, which have very much the same flavor, but he wouldn't try them.

[Cathy]

Thanks for posting the recipe. I love their salad and breadsticks :-)) I'll be trying this at home but will leave out the egg. I can't imagine a restaurant using raw egg these days. At lease without telling the public. Did I miss something on the menu? Seems a little risky. Thanks for the info on the other fun sites too!

[GayeC]

Thanks for posting this recipe. I love the OG's dressing. I am definitely going to try it, but definitely without the egg.

Also thanks to those who posted the "copycat" web sites.

[Zinnia]

The copykat & top secret recipe websites have been very helpful to me over the last 1 & 1/2 to 2 years-I love them!
In Alaska we don't have as many, or the variety of awesome restaurants "the states" D) have. We have alot of awesome places, but when I want to eat something I ate when on vacation or I am craving, I look it up there.
You'll be surprised how many things taste- just like you are there, but you made it! That has it's drawbacks; you have to cook lol..When I can though, I visit here most often of course! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia