Copycat Recipe: Carrabba’s Italian Grill Salad Dressing

Carraba's Italian Grill House Dressing Copycat Recipe

This copycat version of the creamy Parmesan dressing from Carrabba’s Italian Grill is my new favorite. Not only is it delicious, it’s incredibly easy to make.

Frugal Tips:  This recipe only calls for a little bit of buttermilk, so don’t let the leftovers go to waste.  Did you know you could freeze buttermilk?  Here are some great ideas to use up buttermilk after making this dressing.

Copycat Recipe: Carrabba’s Italian Grill Salad Dressing
Serves: 4
 
Ingredients
  • ½ C. mayonnaise
  • ¼ C. grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ C. buttermilk
  • 1½ tsp. minced garlic
  • ½ tsp. minced fresh parsley
  • ½ tsp. lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients and serve with romaine lettuce, croutons, fresh black pepper and any of your other favorite salad ingredients.

 

carrabbas-salad-dressing

See how simple the ingredient list is?  Much of this is in your refrigerator already.


carrabbas-salad-dressing

 

Mix the dressing well.

carrabbas-salad-dressing

Serve with romaine and croutons.

 

Easy Raspberry Chipotle Salad Dressing

raspberry chipotle salad dressing

archer farms raspberry chipotle dressingI am a big fan of recipes that don’t take long; and if the outcome tastes like restaurant fare, even better!  I picked up a bottle of this Archer Farms Raspberry Chipotle grilling sauce at Target yesterday (just $2.99!) and used it to create a salad dressing in under five minutes.   I tossed it with a greens/spinach mix, goat cheese and sliced almonds.  It was delicious!

Frugal Tips:

  • Look for goat cheese at ALDI.  Last month, I spotted President Brie logs on sale there for just $.99!  Sam’s Club and Costco are also great sources for inexpensive cheese.  Soft cheeses are more perishable than hard cheeses, but they can be frozen.
  • Sliced almonds run about $2.49 (ALDI) to $2.99 (Target) a bag.  A little goes a long way!  I used less than 1/4 bag on these salads.  Don’t forget to put the partially used bag in the freezer so the nuts stay fresh for the next time you use them.
  • The rest of your Raspberry Chipotle Sauce will taste good on grilled chicken, but it’s also great as an appetizer.  Pour about 1/3 C. over a block of softened cream cheese for a frugal appetizer.  Serve with crackers or cocktail bread.
Easy Raspberry Chipotle Salad Dressing
Recipe type: Salad
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4
 
An easy semi-homemade dressing that’s ready within minutes!
Ingredients
  • ½ C. Raspberry Chipotle Sauce (any brand will work)
  • ⅓ C. vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
  • Cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Whisk the ingredients above together until emulsified. Enjoy!