Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Dressing (Printable version)
Crisp vegetables, salami, and cheese in zesty homemade Italian dressing
# Ingredient List:
→ Salad Components
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
06 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
07 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced
08 - 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
09 - 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
10 - 3.5 oz Genoa salami, cut into thin strips
→ Homemade Italian Dressing
11 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
17 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
19 - 1/2 teaspoon honey, optional
# How to Make It:
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 fully emulsified. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - Combine Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, mozzarella cubes, shaved Parmesan, and salami strips in a large salad bowl.
03 - Drizzle the homemade dressing over the salad immediately before serving. Toss gently with salad tongs to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate components.
04 - Transfer to individual plates or serving bowls. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. Serve promptly while vegetables remain crisp.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The homemade dressing is infinitely better than anything store-bought and takes literally two minutes to make
- Everything can be prepped ahead, making it perfect for entertaining or weekday lunches
02 -
- Add the dressing right before serving because the salt in the olives and cheese will eventually make the lettuce wilt
- The dressing tastes even better after sitting for 20 minutes, so make it first and let the flavors mingle
03 -
- Dry your lettuce thoroughly after washing so the dressing actually clings to the leaves instead of sliding off
- Cut all ingredients into similar bite-sized pieces so every forkful has the same perfect ratio of flavors