Italian Chopped Salad with Dressing (Print Version)

Crisp vegetables, savory salami, and tangy cheese in a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect light meal or starter.

# 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

# Steps:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper, and honey in a small bowl or jar until fully emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - Place Romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, Kalamata olives, pepperoncini, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and salami strips in a large salad bowl.
03 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad immediately before serving. Toss gently using salad tongs to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated without damaging delicate components.
04 - Transfer to individual plates or serve family-style. Garnish with additional shaved Parmesan if desired. Serve promptly to maintain crisp texture.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Every single bite hits you with something different, crisp, tangy, salty, fresh
  • It comes together in literally twenty minutes but tastes like you spent forever planning it
  • The homemade dressing makes those store-bought versions taste like sad water in comparison
02 -
  • This salad does not sit well dressed, so keep the dressing separate until the last possible second
  • Cutting everything into similar sized bites is what makes chopped salads feel so satisfying to eat
  • The salami can get rubbery if left too long, so add it last if you are meal prepping
03 -
  • Let the dressing sit for at least 15 minutes before using so the dried herbs have time to wake up
  • Toast some pine nuts or sunflower seeds and sprinkle them on top for extra crunch

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