Description
This quick and vibrant Italian Chopped Salad is a perfect fresh feast ready in just 10 minutes. Combining crisp iceberg and romaine lettuces, crunchy cucumbers, savory salami, briny olives, garbanzo beans, and rich parmesan cheese, all brought together with a zesty red wine vinaigrette dressing, it makes a deliciously satisfying and easy meal or side.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/4 cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (can use avocado oil)
- 2 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar (substitute with lemon juice if desired)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard (increase for a stronger flavor)
- 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano (fresh oregano can be swapped in)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (fresh minced garlic for bolder flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper (freshly cracked is preferred)
Salad
- 2 cups Iceberg Lettuce (can substitute with romaine or mixed greens)
- 2 cups Romaine Lettuce (any leafy green can work)
- 1 cup Persian Cucumbers (alternatives are regular cucumbers or bell peppers)
- 6 oz Salami (turkey salami for a lighter option)
- 1 cup Garbanzo Beans (black beans make a good alternative)
- 1/2 cup Kalamata Olives (green olives can replace this)
- 1 cup Diced Tomatoes (cherry tomatoes add a lovely burst of flavor)
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese (nutritional yeast is a vegan alternative)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, garlic powder, sea salt, and ground black pepper until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
- Chop the salad ingredients. Finely chop the iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, Persian cucumbers, and salami into bite-sized pieces to ensure easy eating and even flavor distribution.
- Combine the salad components. In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped lettuce, cucumbers, salami, garbanzo beans, kalamata olives, diced tomatoes, and grated parmesan cheese.
- Toss the salad with the dressing. Pour the prepared dressing over the mixed salad ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly until everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Taste and serve. Taste the salad and adjust seasoning or add extra parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh, crisp textures and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- For a dairy-free or vegan version, substitute parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast.
- Use turkey salami for a leaner meat option or omit salami for a vegetarian salad.
- Fresh minced garlic can be used instead of garlic powder for a bolder flavor.
- Red wine vinegar can be swapped with lemon juice for a lighter tang.
- Chop all ingredients uniformly to ensure consistent texture and taste.
- Serve this salad immediately to maintain crispness of the greens and vegetables.
