This simple chopped salad recipe options home made Italian dressing, crisp greens, and Parmesan cheese for the last word facet dish. Prepared in simply 20 minutes with large taste!

Looking out for a facet salad to decorate with all of your meals? I’m at all times looking out for an excellent inexperienced salad. So would possibly I current, my favourite chopped salad recipe.
It’s elegant and tight. It begins with my home made Italian dressing: tangy, savory, and herby. Add to that shallots, tomatoes, cucumber, and a zing from pepperoncini. Parmesan cheese seals the deal. Each time I serve this to associates or household, they ask for the recipe (no joke!).
Why this chopped salad recipe works
With out fail, after I serve this salad at a cocktail party, individuals ask: Wow! What’s on this salad? That’s when you recognize a recipe is a keeper!
I’ve examined numerous salad recipes through the years, and this recipe has grow to be a household and reader favourite. The key lies within the ingredient stability and my zesty home made Italian dressing recipe that turns bizarre greens into one thing extraordinary.
Important components for one of the best chopped salad
- Lettuce base: I take advantage of 1 romaine coronary heart plus 5 cups leafy lettuce for some texture contrasts. Romaine offers crunch whereas softer lettuce provides quantity.
- Greens: I at all times use English cucumber: I choose these as a result of they’re primarily seedless and the pores and skin has a light taste. I add cherry tomatoes lower in half and one giant shallot for refined onion taste.
- Taste enhancers: The important thing ingredient is jarred sliced pepperoncini for tangy warmth, and don’t skip the ripe inexperienced olives for briny saltiness and contemporary Parmesan cheese shavings. I like Castelvetrano olives for his or her delicate taste.

Ideas for the dressing
I whisk the dressing by hand utilizing a big whisk in a medium bowl: the bowl measurement is essential to attain one of the best emulsion. The hot button is including the olive oil tablespoon by tablespoon whereas whisking constantly. The Dijon mustard within the dressing additionally helps to emulsify it.
The flavour profile balances tangy white wine vinegar with a contact of maple syrup, plus dried herbs. I usually make a double batch as a result of this dressing retains effectively within the fridge for as much as 2 weeks.

Methods to serve chopped salad
This versatile chopped salad pairs with each weeknight dinners or dinner events the place you wish to impress. Some serving concepts:
- Italian favorites: Margherita Pizza, Baked Ziti, and Pasta Puttanesca
- Grilled mains: Grilled Salmon, Grilled Rooster Thighs, and Grilled Crimson Snapper
- Consolation meals dinners: Vegetarian Lasagna with Ricotta, Prompt Pot Spaghetti, and Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta
- Mild lunches: Caprese Sandwich, Hummus Roll Ups, and Avocado Egg Salad
For a heartier meal, I typically flip this right into a principal dish salad by including pan seared hen, hard-boiled eggs, or marinated white beans.

Storage and make-ahead ideas
This chopped salad is finest served contemporary, however I’ve found some tips for meal prep:
Similar-day serving: Put together all greens and dressing individually as much as 4 hours forward. Retailer greens lined within the fridge and produce dressing to room temperature earlier than assembling.
Meal prep: The person elements preserve effectively for 2-3 days when saved correctly. Hold lettuce washed and chopped in a salad spinner, and retailer different chopped greens in separate containers.
Dietary notes
This chopped salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese. (It’s nonetheless simply as tasty!)
Often requested questions
I take advantage of a pointy chef’s knife and intention for ½-inch items. Taking your time with prep makes a noticeable distinction within the closing presentation.
Whereas you should use bottled Italian dressing, I strongly encourage attempting the home made model: it makes this salad particular and takes 5 minutes to prep.
At all times completely dry your lettuce and add dressing simply earlier than serving. If serving at a celebration, I preserve the dressing on the facet and let visitors add their very own.
Favourite Chopped Salad
This chopped salad will amaze everybody across the desk! Do-it-yourself Italian dressing, veggies and Parmesan cheese mix into one extraordinary salad.
- Prep Time: quarter-hour
- Cook dinner Time: 0 minutes
- Complete Time: quarter-hour
- Yield: 8 servings
- Class: Salad
- Technique: Uncooked
- Delicacies: Italian Impressed
Substances
- 1 recipe Do-it-yourself Italian Dressing
- 1 Romaine coronary heart (3 cups)
- 5 cups leafy lettuce
- 1 giant shallot
- 1 English cucumber (2 cups chopped)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup ripe inexperienced olives, halved
- ½ cup jarred sliced pepperoncini
- ¼ cup Parmesan shavings or shreds, plus extra to serve
- ¼ teaspoon pink pepper flakes, non-obligatory
Directions
- Make the Do-it-yourself Italian Dressing.
- Chop romaine and lettuce. Thinly slice the shallot. Peel and chop cucumber. Slice tomatoes and olives in half.
- Combine collectively all of the components for the salad, together with the dressing, and toss to mix. If making upfront, refrigerate the elements individually; convey the dressing to room temperature earlier than serving.
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