The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

Home » Salad Recipes » The Pasta House Company Salad and Vinaigrette Dressing

by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 6 Comments

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If you have ever had the Pasta House Company Salad, you will not soon forget it. The Pasta House salad is a great dinner salad packed with artichoke hearts, onions, lettuce and so much more!

The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (1)

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Table of Contents

Why this Pasta House Salad Recipe Works

This Pasta House Salad recipe is extremely unique. Anyone who has ever had this salad loves it.What makes it so different are the flavors of the artichoke hearts and pimentos.

You won’t find these flavors in most salads.And when you do taste it, you know it comes from the Pasta House Co.Now you can make this delicious salad at home for your family.

What Makes the Pasta House Salad Recipe So Good?

With nutty parmesan cheese, sharp red onions, earthy artichokes, and succulent pimentos, the combination of components in this salad will make your mouth water.

However, this salad wouldn’t be complete without the simple yet delicious dressing that you can make in a matter of moments. The red wine vinegar dressing is a trademark of the Pasta House Co. and enhances the dish significantly.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

Salads can often feel repetitive or bland, which may discourage you from eating them. However, this recipe has the features of what makes a great salad: using a variety of greens and making your own dressing.

Specifically, this recipe contains two types of lettuce. Plus, since you make the dressing from scratch, it cuts out unnecessary ingredients.

This dish is full of flavors and textures that can reignite your love for salads. Not to mention, this satisfying fare can be enjoyed as a side or main course! Either way, it immediately takes you back to the Pasta House. Did I mention that you can make this recipe in just 20 minutes?

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you will need to make the salad and dressing:

  • Iceberg Lettuce
  • Romaine Lettuce
  • Red Onion
  • Pimentos
  • Artichoke Hearts
  • Parmesan Cheese
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Red Wine Vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper
The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make Pasta House Company Salad

  1. Place both types of lettuce in a large salad bowl or on a plate.
  2. Top with red onion, pimentos, artichoke hearts, and parmesan cheese.
  3. Combine vegetable oil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.
  4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad.

The dressing is a simple and amazing vinaigrette that makes this Pasta House salad really stand out.

The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (3)

Recipe Tips

  • This salad calls for both Iceberg and Romaine lettuce to give it a nice variety.Keeping the lettuce in larger chunks is what gives this salad its appeal.
  • Wait to add the dressing until you are about to serve it. This will keep the lettuce from wilting.
  • Make sure you drain both the artichoke hearts and the pimentos really well to keep from having a soggy salad.

Recipe Variations

Don’t be afraid to add fruit, fat, or even something with a crunch.

  • If you want something more filling, you can include protein such as shredded chicken, salami, or tofu, which pairs with the other ingredients in the salad.
  • Use different cheeses: Feta cheese will transform it from an Italian to a Greek salad.
  • Add more veggies. Sliced cucumbers, black olives, tomato, and bell peppers are all great ones.
  • Make it dairy-free. If you follow a vegan diet or simply can’t consume dairy, you can always omit the parmesan or simply swap it for a dairy-free cheese alternative.
  • Use caramelized onions. Instead of red onions,you can use caramelized yellow onions, which add a slight sweetness to the dish and offsets the vinegar-based dressing.

What to Serve This Salad With

You can never go wrong with a soup and salad combo. Try pairing this dish with Minestrone for an entirely vegetarian meal. Or, enjoy it with other soups such as chicken bisque or hamburger soup.

If you’re a real fan of the Pasta House Co., making a copycat fettuccine Alfredo is undoubtedly the way to go. The creamy sauce creates a nice balance against the tangy salad and will surely leave you feeling satiated!

How to Store The Salad Ingredients

Refrigerate any leftover ingredients in separate containers, especially the dressing, for best results.

A mason jar is great for storing the dressing.

You can keep the onions, artichokes, and other pimentos in sandwich bags if that is easier for you. The dressing and lettuce should be in airtight containers.

How Long Will Pasta House Salad Last?

Assuming that you store it correctly, the dressing should last a couple of weeks since it isn’t mayo-based. It might separate, but all you need to do is mix it to emulsify it again. Check for signs of spoilage before you use it!

However, the salad ingredients are much more perishable, especially after you chop them. Try to use them within 3-5 days for the best quality.

The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (4)

Love The Pasta House Company? Try these copycat recipes!

  • Pasta House Fettuccine Alfredo
  • Penne Primavera
  • Garlic Cheese Bread

Favorite Salad Recipes

  • Applebees Oriental Chicken Salad
  • Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
  • Green Goddess Salad
  • Brussel Sprouts and Kale Salad
  • Wendy’s Strawberry Chicken Salad
  • Fettuccine Salad
  • Olive Garden Salad
  • Green Jacket Salad
  • Brown Derby Cobb Salad
  • Italian Chopped Salad

Be sure to check out more of my easy salad recipes and the best Italian restaurant copycat recipes.

Did you make and love this recipe? Give it your review below and make sure you share your creations by tagging me on Instagram!

Pasta House Company Salad

You can makePasta House Company Salad at home.

4.92 from 12 votes

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Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Pasta House Company Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 173kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 1 head iceberg lettuce
  • 1/2 head romaine lettuce
  • 1 small red onion (thinly sliced–use smallest food processor blade
  • 1/2 ounces diced pimentos (diced and drained)
  • 6 ounces can artichoke hearts (drained and crumbled into fourths)
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (buy fresh and grate yourself!)

Salad Dressing

  • 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Break the head of iceberg lettuce into quarters, and separate the leaves. Break the romaine lettuce into thirds.

  • In a large bowl, combine iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, sliced onions, pimentos, artichoke hearts, and grated parmesan.

  • Toss and chill.

Salad Dressing Preparation

  • In a small bowl combine vegetable oil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste.

  • Whisk the salad dressing well. Pour salad dressing over chilled salad, and serve.

Notes

Notes

  • This salad calls for both Iceberg and Romaine lettuce to give it a nice variety. Keeping the lettuce in larger chunks is what’s gives this salad its appeal.
  • Wait to add the dressing until you are about to serve it. This will keep the lettuce from wilting.
  • Make sure you drain both the artichoke hearts and the pimentos really well to keep from having a soggy salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 255mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5375IU | Vitamin C: 12.5mg | Calcium: 85mg | Iron: 1.2mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. GrammaSue

    The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (6)
    Hmm… I have made this before but my recipe calls for parmesan grated in the salad and in the dressing, so I was missing that in this recipe. We also add a pinch of sugar in our dressing to take that “sour-bitter” taste down. This is close..but no cigar. Thank you for sharing, however.
    PS The stars wouldn’t light up for me-kept going away.

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      Thanks for letting me know. This recipe is about 20 years ago, it is definitely possible the recipe changed over time.

      Reply

  2. Stephanie Helm

    How do you make the red onions? They taste like they are marinated.

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      You can marinate them in white vinegar with a bit of sugar.

      Reply

  3. andrew

    The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (7)
    Can you copy cat “pasta house cream mushroom soup”

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      I need to try it first 😉

      Reply

Leave a Reply

The Pasta House Company Salad and Dressing - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is house salad dressing made of? ›

The standard house dressing is a combination of vinegar, oil, garlic, herbs, and a touch of sugar, but each restaurant has its own method, proportions, and add-ons.

How many calories are in pasta house salad dressing? ›

Pasta House Salad Dressing (2 tbsp) contains 1g total carbs, 1g net carbs, 18g fat, 0g protein, and 160 calories.

Should you rinse pasta in cold water for pasta salad? ›

If you're making a dish that will be served chilled or at room temp—think cold soba, rice noodles, pasta salad—you do want to rinse so that you get toothsome (sorry) individual strands rather than one big gummy clump. Certain types of noodles benefit from a rinse in almost all applications.

Do you dress pasta salad warm or cold? ›

The first time should be when the pasta is still warm so it can easily absorb the dressing. Only add about half of the amount of dressing you usually would and think of it as a marinade. The pasta, vegetables, and cheeses get time to absorb the dressing and take on additional flavor.

What is the unhealthiest salad dressing? ›

Depending on the ingredients, some dressings tend to be less healthy than others.
  1. Caesar. And at the top of that list? Caesar dressing. ...
  2. Thousand Island. Next in line is Thousand Island. ...
  3. Blue cheese. The delicious crumbles that make blue cheese dressing a fan favorite can also make it dangerous for a balanced diet.
Oct 27, 2023

What is the healthiest dressing for a salad? ›

6 healthy salad dressings you can make in less than 3 minutes
  1. Classic lemon and olive oil. This is a very easy dressing that is good with strong-flavoured leaf salads, such as rocket or kale. ...
  2. Lime and chilli dressing. ...
  3. Simple balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  4. Raspberry vinaigrette. ...
  5. Creamy cucumber dressing. ...
  6. Creamy mint dressing.

Which vinegar is used for salad dressing? ›

In addition to white wine vinegar, red wine, sherry, balsamic and cider vinegars can all be used in the same quantities as above. It's really down to personal taste and it's great to have a selection of vinegars in your cupboard to give variety to even the simplest salads.

What is pasta salad dressing made of? ›

Pasta Salad Dressing

It's a zesty mix of olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt.

What is the formula for salad dressing? ›

As a matter of fact, I frequently just drizzle a little olive oil on my salad, followed by some vinegar and salt, and then toss the greens. It's delicious. The French have decided that the perfect ratio for a vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.

What is the main ingredients in salad dressing? ›

The major ingredients are vegetable oil, vinegar, salt, tomato ketchup, paprika paste, flavor, and sugar. The batch and semiautomatic machines can produce salad dressings of a few tons per day. Ma and Boye (2012) indicated that reducing fat and cholesterol contents in salad dressings is a challenge to researchers.

Is Olive Garden salad dressing high in calories? ›

There are 40 calories in a 1 tablespoon (15.000g) serving size of Olive Garden Italian Dressing. The calorie breakdown is 90% fat, 10% carbs, and 0% protein.

Does pasta salad have carbs? ›

Traditional mayo-based pasta salad per 1 cup: Calories: 360 calories. Fat: 19 grams. Carbs: 40 grams.

How much is a serving of pasta salad? ›

When serving pasta salad as a side dish, it's safe to guess that most people won't eat more than 3/4 cup of finished salad. If the pasta salad is the main meal the portion size will increase by double (generally).

What are three things that should be avoided when making a nutritionally balanced salad? ›

Is Your Salad Healthy? 7 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging It, According to Registered Dietitians
  • Mistake 1: Forgetting Protein. ...
  • Mistake 2: Drowning in Dressing. ...
  • Mistake 3: Packaged Dressings. ...
  • Mistake 4: Going Crazy on the Croutons. ...
  • Mistake 5: Boring Bowls. ...
  • The Magic Formula for a Winning Salad.
Mar 27, 2023

What not to do when making pasta? ›

5 Things We Never Do When Making Pasta
  1. Use a small pot to boil the pasta.
  2. Neglect to salt the water.
  3. Forget to give the pasta a stir or two as it cooks.
  4. Cook it past al dente.
  5. Dump out all of the pasta water.
May 1, 2019

What are the seven things that you should not do when preparing the salad? ›

Common Salad Mistakes
  1. Here are seven things you should NOT do when making salads: Too much dressing. ...
  2. Pouring on the dressing. ...
  3. Wet salad leaves. ...
  4. Not seasoning it. ...
  5. Subpar salad dressings. ...
  6. Uncreative toppings. ...
  7. Served in a bowl.
May 13, 2013

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