Italian Chopped Salad Homemade Dressing (Printable Version)
Crisp romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, salami and cheese in zesty homemade dressing. Perfect light meal ready in 20 minutes.
# 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
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)
# Directions:
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 thoroughly emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
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 prepared dressing evenly over the salad immediately before serving. Using salad tongs, toss gently to coat all ingredients thoroughly without damaging delicate components.
04 - Transfer to individual serving plates or present family-style in the large bowl. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. Serve promptly to maintain optimal crunch and texture.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The homemade dressing comes together in seconds but tastes like it simmered for hours
- Every bite delivers a different combination of salty sweet crunchy and fresh flavors
- You can prep all the vegetables ahead and toss it together in under five minutes
02 -
- This salad needs to be dressed right before serving or the lettuce will wilt and lose its satisfying crunch
- Letting the dressing sit for 15 minutes allows the dried herbs to rehydrate and flavors to meld
03 -
- Chill your serving bowl for 10 minutes before assembling to keep everything extra crisp
- Double the dressing recipe and keep it in the refrigerator for quick salads all week