Description

Easy Italian Chopped Salad is a refreshing and vibrant salad that combines crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, savory salami, provolone cheese, chickpeas, olives, pepperoncini, and red onion. Tossed in a tangy homemade Italian vinaigrette made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and Italian seasoning, this salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Ideal as a light meal or a tasty side dish, it comes together quickly without any cooking required.

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 the Salad Ingredients: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, and slice the red onion thinly. Drain and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Cube the provolone cheese and dice the salami. Slice the black olives and pepperoncini. Combine all these salad ingredients in a large serving bowl for easy mixing.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and black pepper until the dressing emulsifies and is well combined. This tangy vinaigrette will add bright flavor to the salad.
Toss the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Gently toss everything together to ensure all components are evenly coated with the vinaigrette while maintaining the salad’s texture and crunch.
Serve: Serve the salad immediately as a refreshing light meal or a flavorful side dish. For meal prep, you can keep the dressing separate until ready to eat to preserve freshness.

Notes

Add grilled chicken for a heartier and protein-rich meal.
Chill all ingredients before assembling for maximum freshness and crispness.
Store the dressing separately if preparing the salad ahead of time to avoid sogginess.

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