Description
Rustic Italian chop-chop salad delivers robust Mediterranean flavors in a simple, fresh composition. Crisp vegetables and zesty dressing combine for a perfect lunch companion that transports you directly to an Italian countryside trattoria.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Salad Base:
- 4 cups (960 milliliters) romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) pepperoncini, sliced
Proteins and Cheeses:
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) provolone cheese, cubed
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) salami, chopped
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) ham, chopped
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) Parmesan cheese, grated
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) Italian dressing
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Chop romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and spread evenly in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Dice fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion into uniform small cubes, scattering them across the lettuce base.
- Slice black olives and pepperoncini, distributing them generously throughout the salad foundation.
- Cube mozzarella and provolone cheeses, creating delightful texture variations.
- Thinly slice salami and ham, allowing the proteins to intermingle with the vegetables.
- Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over the assembled ingredients.
- Drizzle robust Italian dressing across the salad, ensuring complete coverage.
- Dust with dried oregano and freshly cracked black pepper for enhanced flavor profile.
- Gently toss all components using salad servers, ensuring each ingredient is evenly coated and integrated.
- Plate immediately to maintain crisp vegetable texture and serve at cool room temperature.
Notes
- Keep lettuce crisp by washing and thoroughly drying before chopping to prevent soggy texture.
- Replace traditional cheeses with dairy-free alternatives like nutritional yeast or vegan mozzarella for lactose-intolerant diets.
- Substitute salami and ham with grilled chicken, tofu, or chickpeas for vegetarian and lighter protein options.
- Make homemade Italian dressing using olive oil, vinegar, herbs, and mustard for fresher, healthier flavor without preservatives.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg