Description
Italian Chopped Salad is a hearty, flavor-packed salad loaded with crisp lettuce, fresh veggies, salami, cheese, and a tangy red wine vinaigrette. Everything is chopped bite-sized for the perfect mix in every forkful. Great for lunch, dinner, or your next potluck.
Ingredients
For the salad:
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1 head romaine lettuce, chopped (or use a mix of romaine and radicchio)
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1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
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1 cup cucumber, diced
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1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
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1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
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1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
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1/2 cup mozzarella pearls or cubed provolone
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1/4 cup sliced black or Kalamata olives
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1/4 cup grated Parmesan
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1/2 cup sliced salami or pepperoni (optional for a classic Italian touch)
For the dressing:
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1/4 cup olive oil
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2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
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1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
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1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
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Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
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Make the dressing:
In a small jar or bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Shake or whisk until fully combined. -
Assemble the salad:
In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, chickpeas, pepperoncini, cheese, olives, Parmesan, and salami if using. -
Dress and toss:
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until evenly coated. -
Serve:
Serve immediately or chill for 15 minutes for extra flavor. Top with extra Parmesan before serving if desired.
Notes
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Make it vegetarian by skipping the salami or replacing it with roasted red peppers or artichoke hearts.
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This salad holds up well for meal prep—just keep the dressing separate until ready to eat.
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Add grilled chicken or tuna for a protein boost.