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Loaded Italian Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

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A flavorful Italian-inspired salad featuring crispy greens, savory salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, and a tangy red wine vinaigrette, perfect as a side or main dish.

Ingredients

6 cups leafy green lettuce (romaine or green leaf)

4 oz. salami, quartered

4 oz. pepperoni, cut in half

¾ cup mozzarella pearls (or fresh mozzarella cut into cubes)

¾ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

½ cup black olives, pitted & sliced

¼ cup pepperoncini, sliced

¼ cup red onion, sliced thin

¼ cup fresh basil, sliced thin

For the red wine vinaigrette:

⅓ cup olive oil

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp Italian seasoning

2 garlic cloves, minced

¼ tsp red pepper flakes

Salt & black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Wash and dry the leafy greens, then tear or chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place it in a large salad bowl.
  2. Quarter the salami, cut the pepperoni in half, and slice the mozzarella into cubes (if not using pearls). Halve the cherry tomatoes, slice the olives, red onion, pepperoncini, and chop the fresh basil.
  3. Add the salami, pepperoni, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini, red onion, and basil to the bowl with the lettuce. Toss gently to combine.
  4. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
  5. Drizzle the red wine vinaigrette over the salad just before serving, then toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.
  6. Serve immediately, or chill the salad in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to let the flavors meld together before serving.

Notes

Storage: Best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day. Store the dressing separately if possible to prevent the lettuce from wilting.

For a more filling meal, add grilled chicken, shrimp, or roasted vegetables.

If you prefer a different cheese, substitute mozzarella with provolone, feta, or Parmesan.

If you like heat, increase the red pepper flakes in the dressing or add fresh chili peppers like jalapeños or banana peppers to the salad.

This salad is naturally gluten-free as long as gluten-free deli meats like salami and pepperoni are used.

For added veggies, consider adding cucumbers, bell peppers, or roasted eggplant.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://familydinnercooking.com/loaded-italian-salad-with-red-wine-vinaigrette/