Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Dressing (Printable View)
Crisp romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers layered with salami, olives, and cheese in tangy homemade dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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 or fresh bocconcini
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 tbsp red wine vinegar
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 clove garlic, minced
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
17 - 1/2 tsp salt
18 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
19 - 1/2 tsp honey, optional
# How-To Steps:
01 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and honey until emulsified and well combined. Set aside to allow flavors to meld.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, mozzarella cheese, shaved Parmesan, and Genoa salami strips.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently using salad tongs to coat all ingredients evenly without damaging delicate vegetables.
04 - Transfer to individual serving plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. Enjoy while vegetables remain crisp.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Every bite delivers that perfect crunch followed by creamy cheese and tangy dressing
- It comes together in under 20 minutes and actually tastes better after sitting for a few minutes
- The homemade dressing transforms ordinary vegetables into something restaurant worthy
02 -
- The salami can overpower the vegetables if you cut it too thick, so slice it paper thin
- Add the dressing right before serving or the lettuce will start to wilt and lose its crunch
- Red onion can be quite sharp, so soak the slices in cold water for 10 minutes if you prefer a milder flavor
03 -
- A cold salad bowl keeps everything crisp longer, especially in warm weather
- Use a vegetable peeler to shave thin ribbons of Parmesan instead of grating it