Description

Easy Italian Chopped Salad is a fresh and vibrant salad featuring crunchy romaine lettuce, savory salami, creamy provolone cheese, protein-rich chickpeas, and a medley of crisp vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, pepperoncini, and red onion. Tossed in a zesty homemade Italian vinaigrette with olive oil and red wine vinegar, this salad is perfect as a quick, light meal or a flavorful side dish to any occasion.

Ingredients

Salad

1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cucumber, diced
½ cup chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cup diced salami
½ cup provolone cheese, cubed
¼ cup sliced black olives
¼ cup sliced pepperoncini
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion

Dressing

¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Prepare Salad Ingredients: Chop the romaine lettuce, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and thinly slice the red onion. Drain and rinse chickpeas thoroughly. Cube the provolone cheese and dice the salami. Slice the black olives and pepperoncini. Combine all these salad ingredients into a large serving bowl for easy tossing.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is emulsified and smooth, ensuring a balanced tangy and savory flavor.
Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared Italian vinaigrette over the salad bowl. Gently toss all ingredients together to evenly coat the salad with the dressing without bruising the fresh vegetables and mix-ins.
Serve Immediately: For the best texture and freshness, serve the salad right after tossing. Enjoy it as a light meal or as a flavorful side dish.

Notes

Add grilled chicken for a heartier, protein-packed meal.
Chill all salad ingredients before assembling to maximize freshness and crispness.
If preparing ahead, store the dressing separately and toss it with the salad just before serving to prevent sogginess.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Salad
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Italian-American