Loaded Italian Salad
The Loaded Italian Salad is a flavorful, customizable dish inspired by Italian antipasto, combining fresh greens, cured meats, cheeses, and zesty dressing. It’s a nutritious, satisfying meal perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 –2 heads green leaf lettuce or Romaine, chopped, rinsed, and spun dry
- 2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes chopped
- ½ red onion thinly sliced
- ½ cup diced pepperoncini peppers
- 1 cup salami sliced into strips or cubed
- 1 cup green olives with pimento halved
- 1 can chickpeas garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 cup pepperoni rounds or other cured Italian meats like salami or prosciutto optional
- 1 small jar artichoke hearts quartered
- 1 can whole medium black olives halved
- 1 –2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 packet dry Italian dressing mix
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ⅓ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- ½ tablespoon mayonnaise
Instructions
For the Salad:
- In a large, shallow salad bowl or a rimmed sheet pan, start by spreading out the chopped lettuce as the base.
- Next, evenly distribute all the sliced and chopped ingredients over the lettuce, layering them one at a time: tomatoes, artichoke hearts, chickpeas, black olives, salami or pepperoni (or another cured Italian meat like prosciutto), green olives with pimento, pepperoncini peppers, and red onion. Finish by sprinkling the grated mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
For the Salad Dressing:
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake well until fully mixed.
- If serving a crowd, offer the dressing on the side, or toss the salad with the dressing before serving. Serve chilled.