Italian Chopped Salad
Italian Chopped Salad offers a vibrant twist on the classic garden salad with a medley of fresh, crisp vegetables and savory Italian staples, delivering a perfect balance of textures and flavors. This salad is both satisfying and refreshing, embodying the essence of Italian cooking with every chopped piece.
Equipment
- Knife For chopping vegetables and meats uniformly
- Large Bowl For tossing the salad ingredients
- whisk For mixing the Italian vinaigrette
Ingredients
- 1 head Romaine Lettuce chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
- ½ cup Cucumber thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup Kalamata Olives pitted and halved if large
- 4 ounces Salami or Pepperoni cut into small strips or cubes
- ½ cup Mozzarella Pearls drained
- ¼ cup Red Onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup Fresh Basil chopped or torn
- ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 clove Garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano
- Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash all produce thoroughly. Slice the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the cucumber, and finely slice the red onion.
- Cut the salami or pepperoni into small strips or cubes. Drain the mozzarella pearls.
- In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified to make the Italian vinaigrette.
- In a large bowl, gently toss the chopped vegetables, meats, olives, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil with the Italian vinaigrette until evenly coated.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Serve immediately for best texture or chill briefly to meld flavors while maintaining crunch.
Notes
- Chop ingredients uniformly for a visually appealing and easy-to-eat salad.
- For best texture, dress the salad just before serving to avoid sogginess.
- Store leftover salad and dressing separately to maintain freshness.
- Salami can be substituted with grilled chicken, tuna, or beans for different protein options.
- For a vegan version, omit cheese and meats, and use plant-based proteins and dressings.
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