Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Dressing (Print)

Vibrant chopped salad with fresh vegetables, salami, and cheese in zesty homemade Italian dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Salad Base

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

→ Proteins and Cheeses

06 - 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
07 - 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
08 - 3.5 oz Genoa salami, cut into thin strips

→ Italian Accompaniments

09 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
10 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced

→ 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and honey in a small bowl or jar until 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 just before serving. Toss gently with tongs to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate components.
04 - Transfer to individual plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The homemade dressing beats anything store-bought and comes together in seconds
  • Each bite delivers that perfect mix of salty, crisp, and tangy that keeps everyone reaching for seconds
02 -
  • Wait until the last minute to dress this salad or the lettuce will get sad and soggy
  • The dressing keeps for a week in the fridge, so make extra and use it on everything
03 -
  • Use a jar with a lid for the dressing and just shake it instead of whisking
  • Dry your lettuce really well after washing so the dressing actually sticks

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