Description
This Italian Chopped Salad bursts with vibrant colors and textures, featuring crisp romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumbers. Each bite is a refreshing explosion of zesty flavors, enhanced by a tangy vinaigrette that ties all the ingredients together beautifully.
Ingredients
Scale
- Vegetables:
- 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper (red or yellow), diced
- 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
- Proteins:
- 1 cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup salami, diced
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- Herbs:
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion.
- Add the cooked chickpeas, diced salami, and mozzarella cheese to the bowl.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are coated.
- Garnish with chopped basil and parsley before serving.
- For best flavor, let the salad sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
Notes
- This salad can be made ahead of time; just keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to prevent sogginess.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Substitute chickpeas with kidney beans for a different protein option.
- For a vegan version, omit the salami and mozzarella or use plant-based alternatives.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: salad
- Method: mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 3 grams
- Sodium: 600 milligrams
- Fat: 18 grams
- Saturated Fat: 4 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 20 grams
- Fiber: 5 grams
- Protein: 10 grams
- Cholesterol: 15 milligrams
Keywords: Italian Chopped Salad, fresh salad, healthy salad, vegetarian salad, Italian cuisine, salad recipe, summer salad, easy salad, chopped salad, zesty salad, colorful salad, meal prep salad, Mediterranean salad