This Chopped Italian Salad is crisp, colorful, and loaded with classic Mediterranean ingredients ~ it’s my favorite way to eat the rainbow.
A chopped Italian salad is made for outdoor eating
This bright crunchy Italian salad was just made for balmy evenings and family cookouts. But it’s also the perfect side dish for all our favorite Italian meals, year round. I love it with risottos, and pasta, along with heavier meals like Tuscan chicken or short ribs. Sometimes we’ll just make a meal of it with some fresh baked focaccia bread.
This Mediterranean chopped salad does double duty as a healthy working lunch. Make a batch on Sunday and eat it all week. You’ll get lots of fresh crunchy veggies, and a dose of protein to keep you going.
chopped Italian salad can be served composed, or tossed
I love to compose colorful chopped salads like this one with each healthy ingredient radiating out like spokes of a color wheel.
Because why shouldn’t salad making be a creative exercise? A composed salad is simply one that you arrange, instead of randomly toss. You can make it this way ahead of time, wrap in plastic, and then toss it with the dressing dramatically at the table just before serving. Everybody will oooh and aaah.
Ingredient suggestions for a chopped Italian salad
Do you need them all? No! Mix and match, use whatever says “Italian’ to you.
- radicchio ~ this is the ‘greens’ portion of the salad, although it happens to be a rich magenta. Could be romaine, or arugula, too.
- colorful bell peppers
- chickpeas ~ white beans would work also
- peperoncini ~ or any other marinated pepper
- salami ~ leave it out for vegetarians
- black and green olives
- cauliflower ~ or zucchini
- cherry tomatoes
- parsley ~ could be basil
- red onion
- cucumber
- mozzarella ~ could also be diced provolone
Italian chopped salad is hearty enough to be a meal
If you know me you know I love salad for dinner. My husband doesn’t always share my passion, he’ll take a tiny portion as a side dish, while I’ll make a meal of it. But that’s ok, because I know I’m doing my body good. You’ll feel healthy but not deprived…just add some crusty bread and a nice glass of wine 🙂
Make a simple Italian vinaigrette
No need to do anything fancy, a classic dressing will do. I use extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and some dried Italian herbs. Salt and pepper finish it off. It’s basically the homemade version of the stuff in the bottle; delicious, without the chemicals.
Tip: when using dried herbs, always crush them between your fingers first, that revives the flavor and aroma.
make it ahead
Go ahead and prep your chopped Italian salad ahead of time, but leave out the tomatoes until you’re ready to serve, they don’t do well in the refrigerator. Dress it lightly and reserve the rest for when you’re ready to eat. Then add extra if necessary.
Chopped Italian Salad
Ingredients
Italian dressing
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp sugar
Salad
- 1 small head of radicchio, diced
- 1/2 cup each, red pepper, yellow pepper, and orange pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 cup peperoncini, chopped
- 1/2 cup sliced or chopped salami
- 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/4 cup green olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup small cauliflower florets
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatos, halved
- 1/4 cup minced parsley
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup mozzarella pearls
Instructions
- Whisk together the dressing and taste to adjust any of the ingredients. Set aside.
- Add all the salad ingredients to a side shallow salad bowl. You can arrange them like I did, or not. Toss with enough dressing to your taste. If you're not serving right away you can reseve some of the dressing for later.
Nutrition
If you love chopped salads like I do, check these out!
Chopping salads not only makes them pretty, it makes them easier to eat, and allows you to get so many great flavors and textures in every bite. Chunky chopped salads keep well, and make ideal side dishes for outdoor entertaining.
Quick question ; no vinegar in the Greek dressing?
These all look so colorful, can’t wait to try!
Hey Melinda, the Greek dressing relies on lemon juice for the acidity, but you can certainly add a splash of vinegar if that tastes better to you.
I love that these salads don’t rely too heavily on lettuce. My husband can’t eat leafy greens, so I’m always on the lookout for different flavorful salads. This collection gives me a spring through summer’s worth of wonderful recipes! Can’t wait to get started.
Thanks Nan, I adore this salad, and hope you will too 🙂
This looks so delicious! I love raddichio and unfortunately, in 13 years, I have seen it in the Caribbean twice. So sad. When I get back to civilization, it’s on my list.
Bummer Cathy! I bet the Caribbean has plenty of wonderful fresh foods to make up for it, though 😉
I read your recipes every day and what amazes me is how time appropriate they are. I am looking for a recipe for Italian salad and there is one your site. Amazine!! Love them!
Love to hear that Pat 🙂