Classic Italian Chopped Salad Food

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Place the red onion in a small bowl and cover with cold water (this step keeps the onion's flavor but removes some of its harsh aftertaste). Let sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
• Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a separate bowl and cover with hot water to rehydrate. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the salad.
• Peel the kale leaves off of the stems and discard the stems. Chop the leaves into very thin ribbons. You will have about 6 cups. Place in a very large mixing bowl and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt. Grab the kale by big handfuls, massaging it with your hands until it turns dark green in color, feels softer, and is fragrant. Don't skip this step! It makes the kale tender and delicious.
• To the bowl, add the romaine, cherry tomatoes, chickpeas, cheese, salami (if using), pepperoncini, and olives.
• Mix up the dressing: in a large liquid measuring cup or small mixing bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients-olive oil, vinegar, mustard, garlic, honey, oregano, salt, and pepper. Alternatively, you can shake all of the ingredients together in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
• Drain the red onion and sun-dried tomatoes. Add to the bowl with the romaine mixture.
• If serving the salad all at once, drizzle enough dressing on to lightly coat it, then toss to combine (when in doubt, start with less dressing. It's easy to over dress a salad!). Or, if you are serving the salad over a series of days, toss the salad without the dressing to combine, then dress only the portion you plan to eat right away. Taste and add extra salt or pepper as desired.

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Combine garbanzo beans, provolone cheese, salami, romaine, radicchio, broccoli, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot, radishes, and olives in a large mixing bowl. Gently mix in avocado.
• Combine olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, vinegar, liquid amino acids, salt, and pepper in a lidded jar. Cover the jar and shake to mix. Add oregano and close the jar; shake vinaigrette well.
• Add 2/3 of the vinaigrette to the salad and toss; taste salad before adding more. Plate and serve.

SUPER ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. For dressing, in a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Sprinkle with cheese. Top with pepperoncini, if desired.

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• For the dressing: Place the vinegar, honey, Italian seasoning, garlic and some salt and pepper in a blender or food processor. While the machine is running, slowly drizzle the olive oil until the dressing is combined and emulsified. Adjust the seasoning if necessary, or add more oil if you want it less acidic.
• For the salad: Lay out the bacon in rows on the prepared baking sheet. Place in the oven on the upper rack and cook until crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Once it is nice and crispy, chop it up for your salad.
• In a large bowl, combine the bacon, pasta, gorgonzola, romaine, cabbage, iceberg, tomatoes and red onions. Add the dressing and toss together until all is well coated. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk the vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper in a large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in the oil to blend. Add the lettuce, radicchio, beans, and sun-dried tomatoes. Toss to coat. Season the salad, to taste, with more salt and pepper, and serve.

CHOPPED SALAD WITH ITALIAN VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Vinaigrette:.
• Whisk first 7 ingredients in bowl to blend; gradually whisk in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper. Can prepare vinaigrette 1 day in advance. Cover and refrigerate; bring to room temperature and rewhisk before using.
• Salad:.
• Mix all salad ingredients in large bowl.
• Toss with enough vinaigrette to cover.
• Tip: Toss together vinaigrette and salad base at last minute.

CLASSIC ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, toss all ingredients except dressing. Pour dressing over salad; toss to thoroughly coat. Serve immediately.

WINTER ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Whisk orange juice, vinegar, garlic, oregano, mustard, 1/4 cup oil, and 3/4 tsp. salt in a large bowl.
• Toss artichokes, pepperoni, chickpeas, and 2 Tbsp. oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Roast, tossing halfway through, until chickpeas are deep golden brown and pepperoni is crisp, 18-20 minutes.
• Add iceberg lettuce, radicchio, celery, oranges, cheese, and olives to bowl with dressing and toss to combine. Add chickpea mixture to salad and toss again to combine. Drizzle with more oil.

CLASSIC ITALIAN BEAN SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oil in a small saucepan over low heat.
• Add onion, garlic, celery and chilli. Cook for 3 minutes or until onion and celery have softened.
• Stir in beans. Cook for 5 minutes or until heated through.
• Set aside to cool slightly.
• Stir in tomatoes, parsley and vinegar.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve.

THE BEST CAPRESE SALAD

Steps:

• Arrange tomato slices, mozzarella slices, and basil leaves on a serving plate, alternating between them. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.