It’s just about summer and that means it’s time for fresh salads. Italian Chopped Salad is one of my favorites. It’s also one of those dishes where the ingredients change depending on what I have in the frig and pantry.
I marinated chicken breasts in a little olive oil and lemon juice before grilling. The chicken can be replaced with chopped salami, mortadella, speck ham–or your favorite meat. The rest of the dish was easy enough. I chop black olives, ripe tomatoes, red onion, roasted red pepper, romaine lettuce, and radicchio. I add shelled unsalted pistachios, garbanzo beans, and crumbled Gorgonzola. I like sharp provolone, but the kids like a milder cheese. I prefer the oil cured olives, but the kids aren’t big fans of that either. The garbanzos can be replaced with cannellini beans, too. (Cannellini beans are white kidney beans).
Top this off with a little extra virgin olive oil and fresh lemon juice. I sprinkle granulated garlic over the salad then add a bit of salt and pepper. Toss it together and it makes a wonderful meal.
Italian Chopped Salad Recipe
Ingredients
For the marinated chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 4 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- coarse sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary
For the salad
- 2 cups chopped radicchio
- 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1/4 cup shelled unsalted pistachios
- 1/2 cup garbanzo beans
- 1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola
- 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
- 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/3 cup chopped olives
For the dressing
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and coarse sea salt for several hours. Grill or roast until cook through and tender. When cool, chop into bite size pieces.
- Make the salad dressing by mixing together 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, juice of half a lemon, granulated garlic, salt and pepper.
- Toss together the remaining ingredients with the salad dressing.
I shared this recipe at these awesome parties.
This looks so delicious! We do salad bar a lot in warmer weather, it lasts for days. This is a recipe that I am adding to my summer salad rotation, it looks so good! Thanks.
Beautiful presentation! Looks so yummy and healthy too. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty – we hope to see you again next week. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Perfect for a summer dinner! We all love salads, especially with Italian style ingredients.Pinned!
This looks wonderful and healthy, too! Thanks for sharing at Together on Tuesdays!!! I hope to make it for my family and friends 🙂
You have so many wonderful flavors going on in this salad! Definitely more fancy than the salads I make. Thanks for sharing on Weekend Bites
I LOVE salads and this one looks delicious! I’ll definitely have to try this recipe! Thanks for linking up with #ShareTheWealthSunday!
This definitely looks fresh and delicious!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!!
So many healthy goodies here!
Hugs,
Mila
Delicious , my kind of salad thanks for sharing with Hearth and soul blog hop, pinning, tweeting and sharing in google plus.
I will just love your Italian Chopped Salad, it looks delicious. Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday this week.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
This looks incredible! Pinned and tweeted. We appreciate you taking the time to party with us. I hope to see you tonight at 7 pm.. Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls
oh my, this looks absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it!! Pinning. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Yummy!! Thanks for Sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday – Link Party!! Hope to see you tomorrow!! Pinned!!
Congratulations!
Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you have a great weekend and enjoy your new Red Plate!
Miz Helen
That salad is so pretty. I love how you’ve laid it out and photographed it. I’d also like to eat it!
Looks fabulous! Craft Schooling Sunday will be back this week, hope to see you there!