*Use a wet towel or paper towel under the bowl to help it stay in one place while whisking.
**Olive Garden serves their salad with the dressing already on it. You can add the dressing to the entire salad while tossing the salad, or you can serve it on the side to let each person serve themselves.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Italian Dressing Mix - I've experimented a lot with this recipe, and this is still the best option until I find a better homemade mix.
Mayonnaise - I typically use an egg since I like the flavor better. You can emulsify an egg with 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and a pinch or 2 of salt. Then use 2 tablespoons of that simple homemade mayo. It tastes better, in my opinion.
Dried Herbs - dried is the way to go here. Fresh herbs don't work very well with dressings.
Iceberg Lettuce - this is what Olive Garden uses, but you can use the lettuce of your choice like Romaine, Baby Greens, or others.
Other Lettuce Options - many stores carry a bag of a precut lettuce mix of iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and sliced carrots. By all means, use that if you have objections to using bagged lettuce mixes. It'll save you a lot of time!
Roma Tomatoes - you can use any tomato you like, even cherry tomatoes
Olive Garden Croutons - unless you're going to make your own crouton, might as well use theirs, right? But you can sub your favorite croutons here. I recommend using one that is garlic flavored.
Carrots - I use the pre-sliced carrots