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Italian Chopped Salad

A refreshing Italian Chopped Salad featuring crunchy greens, salty salami, creamy mozzarella, and a tangy vinaigrette, perfect for any meal without the need for cooking.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Appetizer, Salad
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Vinaigrette
  • ⅓ cup Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove Garlic clove, finely grated Fresh garlic is preferred over powdered for flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon Honey Optional
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon Black pepper, freshly ground
For the Salad
  • 6 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 2 cups Radicchio, chopped
  • 1 cup Cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup Fresh mozzarella pearls
  • 1 cup Salami, cubed
  • ¼ cup Red onion, finely diced Soak in cold water for 10 minutes if too sharp.
  • ¼ cup Pepperoncini peppers, sliced
  • ⅓ cup Kalamata olives, sliced
  • ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated Fresh is preferred for better melting.
  • 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley, chopped

Method
 

Prepare the Vinaigrette
  1. Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and grated garlic in a small bowl or jar.
  2. Whisk vigorously for about thirty seconds or seal and shake until combined and slightly thickened.
  3. Stir in honey, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasoning and let sit at room temperature.
Wash and Chop Your Greens
  1. Rinse romaine and radicchio under cold water, then dry completely.
  2. Chop them into bite-sized pieces.
Build the Salad Base
  1. Layer chopped romaine on the bottom of a large platter or bowl.
  2. Add radicchio on top evenly.
Add the Tomatoes, Cheese, and Salami
  1. Scatter halved cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella pearls, and cubed salami evenly over the greens.
Layer On the Bold Flavors
  1. Sprinkle finely diced red onion, sliced pepperoncini, and Kalamata olives evenly across the salad.
Finish with Parmesan and Parsley
  1. Grate fresh Parmesan cheese over the salad.
  2. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top.
Dress and Serve
  1. Whisk or shake the vinaigrette again and drizzle over the salad.
  2. Toss gently before serving for even coating.

Notes

Chop every ingredient to a similar size for balanced bites, and store dressing separately if prepping in advance.