Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
A glass salad dressing bottle filled with homemade creamy parmesan dressing (carrabba's copycat).
soulfully made logo
No ratings yet

Creamy Parmesan Salad Dressing (Carrabba's Copycat Recipe)

This creamy parmesan dressing tastes just like the one at Carrabba's, made with mayo, buttermilk, and real parmesan for a rich, tangy base. A touch of anchovy paste and blended kalamata olives give it that signature restaurant flavor in under five minutes.
Author: Nikki Lee
Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time 5 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup mayo
  • ¼ cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves of garlic cloves or 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon or 3 times fresh
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 2 kalamata olives

Instructions

  • To a blender or food processor (I use my single cup Ninja Blender) Add mayo, buttermilk, parmesan cheese, garlic, tarragon, lemon juice, black pepper, anchovy paste, and kalamata olives.
    ½ cup mayo, ¼ cup buttermilk, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, 2 cloves of garlic cloves or 2 teaspoons minced garlic, ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon anchovy paste, 2 kalamata olives
  • Pulse until smooth.
  • If possible, chill for 1 hour or overnight. This dressing gets more flavorful as it chills.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to a week. Pulse or stir until combined before serving on the Italian House Salad.

Notes

GLUTEN-FREE CREAMY PARMESAN DRESSING
This recipe is naturally gluten-free. Just be sure to check labels on packaged ingredients like mayonnaise, olives, spices, anchovy paste, and Parmesan.
The anchovy paste is optional and doesn't really taste fishy. It gives the dressing a depth of flavor you find in the restaurant version.

Recipe Tips

  • Use grated Parmesan instead of shredded for a smoother dressing.
  • Start with less buttermilk and add more as needed.
  • Blend well so the olives and garlic fully incorporate.
  • Taste and adjust lemon juice or pepper to your liking.
  • Let the dressing chill at least 1 hour. I like to chill it for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  • This salad dressing will thicken as it chills. The dressing mimics the thickness of Carrabba’s and coats the salad as it is tossed. For a more pourable dressing, you may want to add more buttermilk, a little at a time, to your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 173 kcal | Carbohydrates: 2 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 17 g | Saturated Fat: 4 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g | Trans Fat: 0.03 g | Cholesterol: 17 mg | Sodium: 314 mg | Potassium: 44 mg | Fiber: 0.1 g | Sugar: 1 g | Vitamin A: 110 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 92 mg | Iron: 0.2 mg

Find it online:

www.soulfullymade.com/creamy-parmesan-dressing/