Italian Chopped Salad
Author: 
Recipe type: Salad
Cuisine: Main Dish
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 1 large salad
 
This is a flavorful salad that goes with any pizza, pasta or sandwich, or can stand alone as its own meal.
Ingredients
  • SALAD:
  • 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • 4 cups chopped spinach leaves
  • 1 cucumber, peeled, quartered
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 1 red pepper, diced
  • 1/ 2 cup asiago cheese, cubed
  • ½ cups pepperoni, cubed
  • Other options:
  • red onion
  • artichokes
  • black olives
  • green olives
  • blue cheese
  • cooked, cubed chicken
  • roasted red peppers
  • CROUTONS:
  • 1 loaf crusty bread, cubed
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 tsp garlic salt
  • 2 tsp dried Italian Seasoning
  • 2 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • DRESSING:
  • ⅔ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • ½ tsp onion salt
  • 2 tsp Italian Seasoning
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
  1. Combine dressing ingredients in a jar. Shake well and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. To make the croutons:
  3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  4. Line a 13x9 baking sheet with parchment paper
  5. Toss bread cubes with olive oil and spices in a large bowl
  6. Spread in a layer on baking sheet
  7. Bake for 15 minutes
  8. Turn off oven but leave croutons in there until oven completely cools down
  9. Remove and let sit for 10 more minutes
  10. Combine all salad vegetables/cheese/meat in a bowl
  11. Toss with croutons and dressing
  12. Serve immediately
Recipe by Girl and Her Kitchen at http://www.girlandherkitchen.com/2016/10/italian-chopped-salad.html