Name: Chopped Italian Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients: 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces; 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved; 1 medium cucumber, diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced; 8 oz fresh mozzarella pearls (or diced if using larger mozzarella); 4 oz genoa salami, diced; 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced; 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved; 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced; 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil; 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs; 2 cloves garlic, minced; Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Prepare the vegetables

Wash and thoroughly dry all vegetables. Chop the romaine lettuce, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, halve the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion. Place all vegetables in a large salad bowl.
Add proteins and cheese

Add the diced salami and mozzarella pearls to the salad bowl with the vegetables. Toss gently to distribute evenly throughout the salad.
Incorporate olives and pepperoncini

Add the halved kalamata olives and sliced pepperoncini to the salad. These ingredients add a delicious briny and slightly spicy flavor that's characteristic of Italian salads.
Make the dressing

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried Italian herbs, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined and slightly emulsified.
Dress and finish the salad

Just before serving, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Sprinkle the fresh basil over the top of the salad as a finishing touch.
Serve immediately

For best texture and flavor, serve the salad immediately after dressing. If preparing in advance, keep the dressing separate and add just before serving to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.

Chopped Italian Salad

Ingredients

Instructions

Nutritional Information