When the heat of summer settles in, dinner salads become a norm in my house, and having this Italian Chopped Salad on rotation is fantastic! Packed with tons of classic Italian flavors, this is a treat at any meal.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this one is a little on the long side. But what's great is you can add or take away to customize the salad to your taste. Just be sure to spring for multiple kinds of cheese, good olives, and great salami. After that things are easily interchangeable.
I also like to make my own dressing for this salad. It is quick and easy and there really isn't anything on the market that taste like an Italian salad dressing.
Just one more note I wanted to include, I purchased this pack of mixed salami to use for this recipe at Costco. It is a great find and provides everything you need for this salad.
Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.
Method
I first mix up the dressing by putting all the ingredients into a jar and shaking them up to combine. This is a fun and easy way to mix up any salad dressing.
Then dress the lettuce with a little bit of the dressing before adding all the remaining ingredients into the bowl.
Then, add all the toppings into the bowl and toss it together. This is a little bit of wild-looking salad, but all the flavor makes up for the looks! I like to finish the salad off with some rolled-up prosciutto and basil leaves.
Notes & Tips
If you use pre-sliced salami and cheese, dice or slice them in short stacks or they will be really hard to peel apart. You don't want big stacks of cheese and meat, you want it all separated so it's spread all thru the salad.
An easy way to split lots of little tomatoes in half is to put them between two container lids and slice many in half at once with a serrated knife.
If you buy a salami pack with a few variations in it, I like to roll up the prosciutto (if it has it) and then cut the rolls in half and decorate the top of the salad with it.
If you aren't familiar with Castelvetrano olives, seek them out, they are classic Italian and so delicious!
Substitutions
I like to use this salad to dress up basic lettuce like an iceberg. But you could also use romaine, butter, or leaf.
I typically use halved grape tomatoes, but you could use any type you have or like.
If you like your foods spicy, swap the pepperoncini for hot cherry peppers. That will keep it Italian and kick it up a notch.
More delicious Salad recipes
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📖 Recipe
Italian Chopped Salad
When the heat of summer settles in, dinner salads become a norm in my house, and having this Italian Chopped Salad on rotation is fantastic!
Ingredients
for the dressing:
- 5 tablespoons Olive Oil
- 3 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- ½ teaspoon fresh Oregano
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
for the salad:
- 4 cups Iceberg Lettuce, finely shredded (about 1 head)
- 2 cups Grape Tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup sliced Pepperoncini Peppers
- 12-ounce Mozzarella Balls, drained
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, shaved
- 1 cup Provolone Cheese Slices, diced
- 1 cup Castelvetrano Olives, halved
- 8-ounces Salami, cut into matchsticks
- ½ large Red Onions, sliced
- 2 tablespoons Basil Leaves, sliced
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Instructions
for the dressing:
- In a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, lemon juice, honey, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Vigorously shake or whisk until combined. Reserve until needed.
for the salad:
- In a large bowl, pour about half the dressing over the lettuce and toss until well coated.
- Add the tomatoes, pepperoncini, cheeses, olives, salami, onions, and basil. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve immediately, or store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.
Notes
Notes & Tips
If you use pre-sliced salami and cheese, dice or slice them in short stacks or they will be really hard to peel apart. You don't want big stacks of cheese and meat, you want it all separated so it's spread all thru the salad.
An easy way to split lots of little tomatoes in half is to put them between two container lids and slice many in half at once with a serrated knife.
If you buy a salami pack with a few variations in it, I like to roll up the prosciutto (if it has it) and then cut the rolls in half and decorate the top of the salad with it.
If you aren't familiar with Castelvetrano olives, seek them out, they are classic Italian and so delicious!
Substitutions
I like to use this salad to dress up basic lettuce like an iceberg. But you could also use romaine, butter, or leaf.
I typically use halved grape tomatoes, but you could use any type you have or like.
If you like your foods spicy, swap the pepperoncini for hot cherry peppers. That will keep it Italian and kick it up a notch.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Weck Canning Jars 743 - Weck Mold Jars made of Transparent Glass - Eco-Friendly Canning Jar - Storage for Food, Yogurt with Air Tight Seal and Lid - ¾ Liter Tall Jars Set - Set of (2 Jars with Wooden Lids) -
OXO Good Grips 3-Piece Stainless-Steel Mixing Bowl Set
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John Boos MPL1812125G Chop-N-Slice Select Maple Edge Grain Cutting Board, 18 Inches x 12 Inches x 1.25 Inches
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Shun Classic 7" Hollow Ground Santoku Knife w/Custom Engraving
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 443Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 80mgSodium: 1594mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 6gProtein: 22g
This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.
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