Easy Italian Chopped Salad That’ll Make You Forget Takeout

Easy Italian Chopped Salad That’ll Make You Forget Takeout
Discover more
Salad dressing
cheeses
pasta
Salami
Italian
salad
Cheese
dressed
dressing
salami

Italian Chopped Salad
Contents [hide]

1
1.1 Ingredients for Italian Chopped Salad
1.2
1.3 Step-by-Step Instructions for Italian Chopped Salad
1.4
1.5 Pro Tips & Variations
1.6
1.7 Storage & Food Safety
1.8
1.9 Nutrition & Serving Ideas
1.10
1.11 Frequently Asked Questions
My neighbor’s Italian grandmother would’ve rolled her eyes at my first attempt. I dumped everything into a massive mixing bowl like I was making potato salad for a church potluck, dressing pooling at the bottom while lettuce leaves stuck together like wet newspaper. But here’s the thing about Italian chopped salad—once you nail the technique, you’ll never order that overpriced version from the deli again.

Perfect.

Advertisements
Discover more
pasta
cheeses
Salad dressing
Pasta
dressing
pepperoni
Salad
salami
Italian cuisine
Cheese
Ingredients for Italian Chopped Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped fine (about 8 cups/240g)
1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped fine (about 6 cups/180g)
1/2 cup salami, diced small (75g)
1/2 cup pepperoni, diced small (75g)
1/2 cup provolone cheese, cubed (75g)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed (75g)
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (150g)
1/2 red onion, diced fine (80g)
1/2 cup pepperoncini, sliced (75g)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar (60ml)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (120ml)
1 teaspoon dried oregano (2g)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (1g)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Italian Chopped Salad
Step-by-Step Instructions for Italian Chopped Salad
Wash both lettuces thoroughly and spin completely dry—wet leaves make soggy salad.
Chop lettuce into bite-sized pieces, roughly 1/2-inch squares, using a sharp knife.
Dice salami and pepperoni into small, uniform cubes for even distribution.
Cube both cheeses into 1/4-inch pieces—they should be substantial but not overwhelming.
Slice cherry tomatoes in half, letting excess juice drain on paper towels.
Combine lettuce, meats, cheeses, tomatoes, red onion, and pepperoncini in large serving bowl.
Drizzle dressing over salad just before serving, tossing gently to coat evenly.
Season with salt and pepper, then serve immediately for best texture.
Italian Chopped Salad
Pro Tips & Variations
The secret lies in the chop—everything should be roughly the same size so you get all those flavors in every single bite. I learned this watching my Italian friend’s mom prepare Sunday dinner; she’d spend twenty minutes just on the knife work, the rhythmic thock-thock-thock echoing through her kitchen while Tim Hortons coffee cooled on the counter.