Olive Garden almost use cheese in each of their dishes. They use different kinds of cheese to make particular dishes to make them unique in flavor.
But do you know how many kinds of cheese they use and what kind of cheese they put on different dishes?
Here are the answers to all your questions.
What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use?
Olive Garden uses Mozzarella, Asiago, and other cheeses that are imported directly from Italy in addition to the Parmesan Romano cheese that serves as the main cheese on their dishes.
The types of cheese Olive Garden use:
- Parmesan Romano Cheese
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Asiago Cheese
- Gouda Cheese
- Ricotta Cheese
- Pecorino Cheese
- Pecorino Romano Cheese
- Grana Padano Cheese
Parmesan Romano Cheese
The most frequently used cheese at Olive Garden is Parmesan Romano. Parmesan Romano cheese is frequently used in Olive Garden restaurants.
Most of the dishes at Olive Garden are made with Parmesan Romano cheese. Also, if you ask for extra cheese at Olive Garden, the waiter will give you Parmesan Romano cheese.
In addition to other dishes, Olive Garden also uses Parmesan Romano cheese on dishes like Seafood Alfredo, Shrimp Alfredo, Jambo House Salad, Lasagna Fritta, Lasagna Classico, Herb-Grilled Salmon, Grilled Chicken Margherita, Chicken Parmigiana, and Chicken Alfredo.
Due to the flavorful nature of Parmesan Romano cheese, Olive Garden uses it.
Parmesan Romano cheese tastes a little more fruity and nutty, which makes the food flavorful.
Mozzarella Cheese
In Olive Garden’s menu, mozzarella ranks as the second-most frequently used cheese. Using Mozzarella cheese, most restaurants make some delicious food items, especially seasonal dishes.
Southern Italy is where mozzarella cheese is also made, and it’s a fun fact that mozzarella is a healthier cheese option than other varieties.
There is mozzarella cheese present in varying amounts in the following Olive Garden menu items: Cheese Ravioli, Eggplant Parmigiana, Fried Mozzarella, Grilled Chicken Margherita, and Lasagna Classico.
Olive Garden uses mozzarella cheese on their kid’s pizza, so you better know that.
Asiago Cheese
Following that is Asiago cheese, also referred to as Asiago Pressato, which is used in a number of well-known dishes at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.
Asiago cheese is also an Italian cheese that Olive Garden imports from Italy to use on its dishes.
Due to their similar tastes, Asiago and Parmesan cheeses have a flavor that is reminiscent of one another. Olive Garden thickens up food by topping it with Asiago cheese.
Chicken Tortellini Alfredo and Asiago Tortellini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken are both served at Olive Garden and both feature Asiago cheese.
Gouda Cheese
Most cheese lovers, including myself, enjoy eating Gouda because it is a unique cheese. Thankfully, Olive Garden also uses Gouda cheese.
The most well-known cheese in the entire world is gouda, which comes from the Netherlands.
Despite not being an Italian cheese, Gouda is used in a variety of dishes at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese that is different from other Italian cheeses Olive Garden uses in the food.
Not only Olive Garden but most restaurants also use Ricotta cheese in several dishes. Lasagna must also be made with this cheese.
There are variations between U.S. Italian-style ricotta cheese and ricotta. Italian Ricotta cheese alone is used at Olive Garden.
Ricotta cheese present Olive Garden menu items are Lasagna Classico, Sicilian Cheesecake, and Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping.
Pecorino Romano Cheese
Pecorino Romano cheese is also used by Olive Garden on just one dish.
In terms of flavor and appearance, Parmesan Romano cheese and Pecorino Romano cheese are totally dissimilar.
Although Pecorino Romano cheese also originated in Italy and Olive Garden imports this cheese from Italy.
Only the Olive Garden Lasagna Classico contains Pecorino Romano cheese. However, Olive Garden added other cheeses to their Lasagna Classico.
Romano Cheese
As you know, Olive Garden is the world’s largest Italian restaurant chain, so it’s normal to see Olive Garden use the most popular Italian cheese Romano in its food.
Romano cheese, however, should not be confused with Pecorino or Parmesan Romano cheese because they are distinct varieties.
Romano cheese is harder and saltier in flavor than other Italian cheeses.
Olive Garden put Romano cheese in the fan-favorite menu item Lasagna Classico.
Grana Padano Cheese
Not grated on top of a dish, Grana Padano cheese is frequently used in cooking.
Another Italian cheese, Grana Padano, is used in a number of dishes at Olive Garden.
While Grana Padano cheese is only used during cooking, so it’s hard to say what Olive Garden dish has this cheese on them.
What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use on Salad?
Olive Garden’s salad is made with only Parmesan Romano cheese, which gives it a stronger and slightly saltier flavor.
Currently, Olive Garden has two salad patter; Famous House Salad and Famous Jumbo House Salad.
Both Olive Garden salads are made with their distinctive salad dressing and Parmesan Romano cheese.
What Cheese Does Olive Garden Use in Their Lasagna?
Olive Garden has three Lasagna on the menu. And every type of Olive Garden Lasagna is very popular.
The Olive Garden serves Family-Style Lasagna Bundle, Lasagna Classico, and Frittata Lasagna. Different cheeses are used by Olive Garden on various lasagnas.
For the Family-Style Lasagna Bundle and Lasagna Fritta at Olive Garden, only Parmesan cheese is used.
Additionally, a variety of cheeses are used to make lasagna classico. The Lasagna Classico at Olive Garden is made with parmesan, mozzarella, and pecorino romano cheese.
What Brand of Parmesan Cheese Does Olive Garden Use?
Cheese is imported from Italy, as you are probably aware, by Olive Garden. The largest importer of cheese in the world, however, is Italy, which also has a huge number of cheese factories.
And Italy has over 2500 traditional varieties of cheese. It can be difficult to determine what brand of cheese Olive Garden uses because parmesan is produced by both large and small cheese companies.
Where Does Olive Garden Get Their Cheese From?
Olive Garden imports most of its cheese directly from Italy. Darden Restaurants, Inc., the parent company of Olive Garden., gets every cheese from Italian cheeses are used at affiliate restaurants like LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Yard House, and others.
As you may already be aware, cheese is one of Italy’s top exports. Italian cheese is widely used in most nations.
Italy exported cheese worth more than 3.1 billion euros to countries around the world last year. And the only country that imports more than 36,000 tons of cheese from Italy annually is the United States of America.
Italian cheese is also imported by other restaurant chains besides Olive Garden.
Conclusion
Olive Garden uses Parmesan Romano, Mozzarella, Asiago, and Ricotta cheese to make its special dishes. The most frequently used cheese is parmesan cheese. They import their cheeses directly from Italia to ensure the flavor.
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FAQs
Where Does Olive Garden Get Their Cheese?
Olive Garden imports six types of cheeses from Italy. Olive Garden also adds more cheese to its pasta dishes than Italians use in their recipes. Six types of cheeses are imported from Italy, and customers can’t get enough.
Is Romano Cheese Better than Parmesan?
parmesan or Romano? Which one is tastier and which one is best used on your pizza or pasta? Romano’s taste is stronger and it is saltier, making it a wonderful flavor-enhancing agent in soups, pasta dishes and pizza. Commonly paired with mozzarella, Romano gives pizza an extra punch.
What Makes Olive Garden so Good?
Olive Garden is one of those chain restaurants that will always have a special place in most people’s hearts — in large part, because of the breadsticks. The Italian-American chain is known for their unlimited salads, endless pasta offerings and those famously warm, soft breadsticks that make customer feel like family.
