Description
This Italian Chopped Salad is a fresh, vibrant dish packed with crisp romaine, radicchio, mozzarella, salami, and chickpeas, all tossed in a zesty red wine vinaigrette. Perfect as a refreshing meal or a flavorful side, this salad is quick, easy, and customizable.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 head romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
- 1 cup chopped radicchio lettuce
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
- 4 ounces dry Italian salami, cut into matchsticks
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced black olives, rinsed and drained
- 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 English cucumber, diced
- 6 pepperoncini, sliced
- 1 cup halved grape tomatoes
- 1/3 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan
For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Prepare the Dressing:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, grated garlic, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes.
- Season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.
-
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine romaine and radicchio lettuces.
- Add mozzarella, salami, chickpeas, olives, bell pepper, cucumber, pepperoncini, tomatoes, and red onion.
-
Dress the Salad:
- Drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad.
- Gently toss to evenly coat all ingredients.
-
Serve:
- Sprinkle shaved Parmesan on top.
- Serve immediately for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- Vegetarian Option: Omit salami and add extra chickpeas or bell peppers.
- Lettuce Substitutions: Use iceberg or shredded cabbage if radicchio isn’t available.
- Add Crunch: Try pine nuts, sunflower seeds, or slivered almonds.
- Storage Tip: Keep the dressing and salad separate until serving for freshness.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: Italian