Italian Chopped Salad with Dressing (Print Version)
Fresh vegetables, salami, and cheese tossed in zesty homemade dressing
# What You 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 or fresh bocconcini
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 for slight sweetness
# Preparation Steps:
01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, black pepper, and honey until emulsified and well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine chopped Romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, sliced pepperoncini, cubed mozzarella, shaved Parmesan, and salami strips.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently with salad tongs to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate components.
04 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. For optimal texture, do not allow salad to sit dressed for more than 15 minutes.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Every crunchy bite delivers the perfect salty tangy combo that makes plain green salads feel sad and incomplete
- You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in under five minutes when guests arrive
02 -
- The dressing tastes better after sitting for 30 minutes so make it first
- Wait until the last minute to dress it or the lettuce gets sad and soggy
03 -
- Use a very large bowl this salad needs room to breathe when tossing
- Make extra dressing because it keeps for weeks and you'll want to put it on everything