Description
A zesty and colorful Italian chopped salad featuring crisp romaine, tangy pepperoncini, hearty pepperoni, and fresh vegetables tossed in Italian dressing.
Ingredients
- Romaine lettuce, chopped
- Cherry tomatoes, halved
- Red onion, thinly sliced
- Cucumber, diced
- Pepperoncini, sliced
- Red bell pepper, diced
- Black olives, sliced
- Mozzarella cheese (mini balls or shredded)
- Cooked pepperoni slices
- Italian dressing
- Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
- Chop romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.
- Prepare vegetables: halve cherry tomatoes, thinly slice red onion, and dice cucumber and red bell pepper. Slice the pepperoncini.
- Add vegetables, black olives, mozzarella, and pepperoni to the lettuce in the bowl.
- Drizzle with Italian dressing and toss to coat evenly.
- Top with grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil if using.
- Serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use turkey pepperoni for a leaner option.
- Add chickpeas or cannellini beans for extra protein and fiber.
- Swap pepperoni with salami or grilled chicken.
- Include artichoke hearts or roasted red peppers for more Italian flavor.
- Use homemade Italian dressing for a personalized touch.
- Top with croutons for crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe (main portion)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 40mg