Description
This colorful and hearty Italian Chopped Salad is packed with bold flavors, fresh vegetables, and savory bites of salami and mozzarella. It’s perfect as a main course or a flavorful side and comes together quickly with a classic homemade dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
Essential Ingredients:
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cucumbers, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup pepperoncini, sliced
- 1/2 cup salami, diced or sliced into strips
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed or pearl-sized
Optional Add-Ons:
- 1/2 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
- 1/2 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1/4 cup olives (black or green), sliced
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
- 1/2 cup chickpeas (canned, drained, and rinsed)
For the Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Chop and prep: Wash and chop romaine lettuce. Dice cucumbers, halve cherry tomatoes, slice onions and pepperoncini. Dice or slice salami and mozzarella.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine all the chopped vegetables, salami, and mozzarella. Add any optional ingredients you prefer.
- Toss with dressing: Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss well to coat all ingredients evenly.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit salami and add chickpeas or roasted red peppers.
- The dressing can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for up to a week.
- If using strong-flavored olives or artichokes, rinse them lightly to tone down their intensity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of salad
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: Italian Chopped Salad, Easy Salad Recipe, Salami Mozzarella Salad, Low-Carb Salad, Mediterranean Salad