Trying to find a great salad to complement your main courses? This amazing chopped salad will quickly become a new favorite of yours. This is a really refined and well-fitting piece. The Italian dressing is created in house and has a nice balance of herbs and acidity. Include some shallots, tomatoes, cucumber, and pepperoncini for spice. The finishing touch is Parmesan cheese. Do you feel like starting a meal? For the simple reason that this chopped salad needs to become a regular in your home.
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:0 minutes
Yield:8 servings
Table of Contents
Chopped salad instructions
The homemade Italian dressing is what really makes this chopped salad shine. The flavor is sharp and refreshing, thanks to the incorporation of garlic, white wine vinegar, and a dash of maple syrup. Dried herbs like basil, thyme, and oregano add a homey touch. (See our dressing tips below.)
To make this chopped salad, all you have to do is cut up the ingredients and toss them with the dressing. The selection of these items was inspired by an Italian chopped salad. You can adjust the proportions of the vegetables in this chopped salad to your taste, but we recommend the following:
Shallots, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes make crunchy vegetables.
Pepperoncini in a jar: a sour punch with a touch of fire
Green olives provide the perfect amount of saltiness.
Recipe for an authentic Italian salad dressing
The secret to a delicious chopped salad is in the dressing. How to Make a Creamy Emulsion in Which the Oil and Vinegar Mix Flawlessly
Use a big whisk and whisk by hand.
For easy whisking, a medium-sized bowl is ideal. (Believe us, we tried doing it in individual bowls and it was next to impossible to combine the oil and vinegar.)
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil. We do this one spoonful at a time, whisking constantly, until all of the oil is incorporated.
Make a meal out of chopped salad.
You’ll want to cook this chopped salad for every meal it’s in your meal plan. If you’re looking to switch things up for supper, you can easily transform this salad into a main course. Here’s what we recommend:
Include a protein source, such as diced chicken, seared ahi tuna, or hard-boiled eggs.
Accompany with cornbread or artisan bread for dipping.
Complete it!
This salad is the epitome of adaptability; it goes great with everything from soup to lasagna to pizza. More harmonious couples are listed below…
Margherita Pizza
Parmesan Potato Wedges
Best Veggie Burger Recipe (or Baked Potato Wedges)
Chimichurri-Baked Salmon
Tomato Basil Gnocchi Soup Easy Calzone
Easy Pasta Puttanesca Skillet Eggplant Marinara
Top Vegan Meatballs
Parmesan-grilled eggplant
Gluten-free vegetarian. Omit Parmesan for vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free. (Still tasty!)
QUICK GLANCES
Ingredients
1 recipe Homemade Italian Dressing
1 Romaine heart (3 cups)
5 cups leafy lettuce
1 large shallot
1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
½ cup cherry tomatoes
½ cup ripe green olives, halved
½ cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
¼ cup Parmesan shavings or shreds, plus more to serve
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
Homemade Italian Dressing.
Chop romaine and lettuce. Shave the shallot. Slice cucumbers. Halve tomatoes and olives.
Toss all salad ingredients, including dressing. Before serving, bring the dressing to room temperature.
