Description
This Italian Chopped Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish combining fresh romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, olives, pepperoncini, mozzarella, salami, and fresh basil, all tossed in a zesty, homemade red wine vinaigrette. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect as a light meal or a colorful side dish bursting with Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed or mini balls
- 1/4 cup salami, diced (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large salad bowl, mix together the chopped romaine lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, red bell pepper, finely chopped red onion, sliced black olives, sliced pepperoncini, cubed mozzarella cheese, diced salami if using, and fresh chopped basil, ensuring all components are evenly distributed.
- Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl or jar, vigorously whisk or shake to combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until the dressing is emulsified and smooth.
- Toss the salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients and gently toss with salad tongs or two large spoons to evenly coat all the ingredients without bruising the vegetables or cheese.
- Serve or chill: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its crisp texture and fresh flavors, or optionally chill it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to allow the dressing to meld and deepen the flavors before serving.
Notes
- You can omit the salami to make this salad vegetarian.
- For a lighter version, reduce the olive oil amount or substitute with a light vinaigrette.
- The salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness but can be chilled briefly to meld flavors.
- To make it gluten-free, ensure the salami and other ingredients do not contain hidden gluten additives.
- Customize with other Italian ingredients like artichoke hearts or roasted red peppers if desired.
