This Italian chopped salad recipe is my go-to recipe for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner. It is packed with fresh vegetables and a zesty champagne vinaigrette which makes it a light yet flavorful dish. Ready in just 10 minutes, it is the perfect meal for a busy day, and can be easily made vegan!
This post contains helpful tips and tricks! If you're in a rush, please use the "Jump to Recipe" below!
💭 Why you'll love this Italian diced salad
- Easily make it vegan. Skip the cheese or use vegan hard cheese instead of parmesan cheese and voila!
- Quick prep time and easy-to-follow instructions. Just combine and toss the salad ingredients, your Italian salad will be ready in 10 minutes.
- Light yet flavorful. This Italian chopped salad recipe is packed with fresh vegetables and a refreshing champagne vinaigrette.
📋 Ingredients and notes
To make this easy Italian chopped salad recipe, you'll need romaine lettuce, endive, red onion, cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini, roasted red bell pepper, Kalamata olives, fresh parsley, fresh basil, parmesan cheese or vegan hard cheese, salt, and black pepper.
For the champagne vinaigrette dressing ingredients, you'll need champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.
Variations & Substitutions
- Romaine lettuce. This will give the salad a crisp base. You can use other fresh and crisp vegetables like iceberg lettuce and radicchio. You may also add cucumber to give your Italian chopped salad an extra crunch.
- Red onion. Even a little red onion adds so much flavor to this salad recipe. If you are not a fan of its sharp oniony flavor, you can use white onion for a milder flavor. Another alternative is radish its mild peppery flavor and to retain the crunch in this Italian chopped salad.
- Pepperoncini. If you enjoy a bit more heat, you may use mild jalapeño pepper as a substitute. Make sure to adjust the quantity accordingly so it won't overpower the fresh taste of the salad.
- Fresh parsley and fresh basil. Other herbs such as fresh dill and mint can also provide a refreshing flavor and pair well with other salad ingredients. You may also use dried oregano if you enjoy its earthy flavor.
- Parmesan cheese. Make this recipe vegan by using vegan hard cheese instead.
- Champagne vinegar. If you prefer red wine vinaigrette, you may use red wine vinegar instead.
- Enhance the Mediterranean flair. Add Kalamata olives and marinated artichoke hearts.
- Introduce various textures. Use salad ingredients like toasted pine nuts, roasted red peppers, or even croutons to make each bite interesting.
📖 How to make Italian chopped salad
Step 1:
In a large bowl, combine the Romaine lettuce, endive, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, olives and parsley.
Step 2:
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking the mixture continuously until the vinaigrette is emulsified and well combined.
Step 3:
Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking the mixture continuously until the vinaigrette is emulsified and well combined.
Step 4:
Sprinkle parmesan cheese and basil over the top of the salad. Add more protein like chickpeas, beans, lentils, or nuts to make it more filling.
👩🏽🍳 Tips for the best Italian chopped salad
⭐ Mix the salad right before serving to maintain freshness and prevent sogginess.
- Chop each ingredient into bite-sized pieces with similar sizes so each bite will have a mix of all flavors and textures.
- Aim for balanced flavors and textures. Use salad ingredients that will give a sweet, salty, tangy, and fresh flavors. Balance the texture by mixing crunchy ingredients like cucumber, onion, and bell pepper with softer ingredients like tomatoes and olives.
👩🏽🍳 Troubleshooting FAQs
Yes! Feel free to customize your salad based on your preference.
Make sure to use a sharp knife and a stable cutting board when you slice the ingredients to ensure safety and more precise cuts.
Separate the wet and dry ingredients and pack the dressing in a different container. Just combine all the salad ingredients and toss with the dressing when ready to serve.
🍴 How to serve Italian chopped salad
Serve the Italian chopped salad with the homemade champagne vinaigrette dressing. Toss them together right before serving to maintain the freshness and crispness of the vegetables. You may also serve the salad chilled to make it more refreshing.
To make it more filling, add protein like chickpeas, beans, lentils, or nuts. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper according to your taste to give the chopped salad more flavor.
🍴Storage suggestions
If you are planning to serve your Italian chopped salad the next day, make sure to separate the homemade Italian dressing and the salad ingredients. For the chopped salad ingredients, make sure to also put each of them in separate containers. Some ingredients release moisture and some absorb it so it might affect their quality when stored together.
Store the salad in an airtight container. You can use a mason jar then put it in the fridge. For the best quality, consume your Italian chopped salad within 1-2 days.
🍴 More salad recipes
If you like this recipe, check out my other salad recipes:
📖 Recipe
Italian Chopped Salad
Ingredients
Chopped Salad:
- 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup endive, chopped
- ¼ cup red onion, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup pepperoncini, chopped
- ¼ cup roasted red bell pepper
- ¼ cup Kalamata olives
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated, can substitute vegan hard cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, adjust to taste
Champagne Vinaigrette:
- ¼ cup champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup, substitute honey
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper, adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the Romaine lettuce, endive, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, pepperoncini, roasted red peppers, olives and parsley.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the champagne vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey or maple syrup.
- Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking the mixture continuously until the vinaigrette is emulsified and well combined.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese and basil over the top of the salad.
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