Italian Chopped Salad Recipe (2024)

This salad brings back all of the flavors reminiscent of your local Italian pizza or sandwich shop. It combines the classic flavors of an Italian sub or hoagie... grinder, or hero.

We really could go on and on about the "proper name" depending on where you're from, but we all know it - it's that long sandwich piled high with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and dressing. Well, this recipe has all of that deliciousness, just without the bread.

Since this dish uses pepperoni and salami, try to look for options cured naturally without all of those unnecessary ingredients. And depending on how the meats are bought, slicing and chopping them will take the most amount of prep time, with the rest of the salad coming together quickly.

For the cheese element, we used almond cheese, but you can always take this opportunity to venture out and try other Paleo versions. While it is a nice touch to the meal, it doesn't break the dish if you decide not to use it.

What we don't suggest skipping out on is the fresh basil! It brings such brightness to the dish and really compliments the other herbs in the dressing.

The key to making this salad most enjoyable is making sure to chop all of the ingredients close to the same size and really mix the dressing in so you're able to get a little bit of everything in one bite.

This recipe has that perfect balance of salty, sweet, and tanginess for a satisfying meal. Try adding in some olives, artichoke hearts, or pickled vegetables to give it more of an antipasto flavor if you'd like.

Italian Chopped Salad Recipe

Serves: 4 Prep: 20 min

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 heads of romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• ½ red onion, chopped
• 8 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup pepperoni, chopped
• ½ cup salami, chopped
• 6 to 8 fresh basil leaves, minced
• ½ cup almond cheese, chopped

Ingredients for the Simple Italian Dressing

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried parsley
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients for the dressing, season to taste, and mix until well emulsified.
2. Add all the ingredients for the salad to a large salad bowl.
3. Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad, and toss everything gently.
4. Serve the salad topped with more fresh basil if desired.

📖 Recipe

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