Italian-Ish Insalata

This is one of my favorite salads, it has all the good texture, the good flavors and its filling! Perfect to mix and match if you do not have everything, go ahead and reinvent this wheel.

Italian Chopped Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 small head romaine lettuce, chopped
1 cup radicchio or iceberg, chopped
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cucumber, sliced into half moons
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup mini peppadew peppers
½ cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
⅓ cup black or kalamata olives, pitted and halved
½ cup pepperoncini, sliced
½ cup mozzarella pearls or provolone, cubed
¼ cup salami or pepperoni, sliced into strips
¼ cup shaved parmesan
Salt
Pepper

Vinaigrette:

• ¼ cup red wine vinegar

• ½ tsp Dijon mustard

• ½ tsp dried oregano

• ¼ tsp garlic powder

• ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together vinegar, mustard, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Taste and adjust seasoning.

2. In a large bowl, combine romaine, radicchio, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, peppers, garbanzo beans, olives, pepperoncini, cheese, and salami (if using).

3. Add dressing to the salad and toss until everything is lightly coated.

4. Top with shaved parmesan and serve immediately.