Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Dressing (Printable Version)
Vibrant mix of crisp vegetables, salami, and cheese in zesty homemade Italian dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
05 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
06 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
07 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
08 - 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
09 - 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
10 - 3.5 oz Genoa salami, cut into thin strips
→ Homemade Italian Dressing
11 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
17 - 1/2 tsp salt
18 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
19 - 1/2 tsp honey, optional
# How To Make It:
01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and honey in a small bowl until well emulsified. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Combine Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, olives, pepperoncini, mozzarella, Parmesan, and salami in a large salad bowl.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad immediately before serving. Toss gently with tongs to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Transfer to individual plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. Serve immediately while vegetables retain their crunch.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Everything can be chopped ahead and kept in separate containers so the salad stays crisp until serving time
- The homemade dressing takes literally two minutes and makes you feel like you actually know what youre doing in the kitchen
02 -
- This salad turns into a soggy disappointment if dressed too early, so wait until literally right before you sit down to eat
- The salami releases oil as it sits, making everything feel heavy, so slice it right before serving or keep it separate
03 -
- Taste your dressing before pouring it on and adjust the acid or salt since every brand of vinegar is different
- Use your hands to toss the salad instead of tongs so you can feel how well the dressing coats everything