Zesty Italian Chopped With Parmesan (Printable)
Crisp romaine and radicchio with peppers and shaved Parmesan, tossed in a bright oregano-lemon vinaigrette.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 2 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
02 - 1 cup radicchio, chopped
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
04 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, sliced
07 - 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped
08 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
→ Cheese
09 - 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
→ Dressing
10 - 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
17 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
18 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Additions
19 - 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, radicchio, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, roasted red peppers, yellow bell pepper, and pepperoncini peppers.
02 - Scatter the shaved Parmesan and Kalamata olives, if using, over the assembled vegetables.
03 - In a small bowl or mason jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified and slightly thickened.
04 - Pour the dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently until every component is evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional shaved Parmesan if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The crunch ratio in every single bite is genuinely satisfying and you will find yourself going back for seconds before finishing your first plate.
- That dressing pulls everything together with a tangy kick that makes people ask what your secret is.
- It requires zero cooking which means your kitchen stays cool and cleanup is almost nothing.
02 -
- Dressing the salad too early is the fastest way to turn something vibrant into a soggy disappointment so always wait until the last possible moment.
- Chopping everything to a similar size ensures you get a balanced bite every time instead of a mouthful of only onion.
03 -
- A wet salad is a sad salad so pat your washed greens completely dry with a kitchen towel before chopping.
- Massaging the kale with a drop of oil if you decide to add some transforms the texture from tough to tender in about sixty seconds.