Crunchy Antipasto Chopped Salad (Printable Version)

Vibrant Italian-style salad with chickpeas, vegetables, salami and mozzarella in zesty dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables & Legumes

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, diced
06 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
07 - 1/4 cup pepperoncini, sliced

→ Meats & Cheeses

08 - 3.5 oz salami, cut into small cubes
09 - 1 cup mozzarella pearls or diced fresh mozzarella
10 - 1/4 cup pitted black olives, sliced

→ Dressing

11 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp salt
17 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

18 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
19 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

# Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, add chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red and yellow bell peppers, red onion, pepperoncini, black olives, salami, and mozzarella pearls.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle chopped fresh basil and parsley over the top and toss gently to incorporate.
05 - Serve immediately for crunchiest texture, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped into bite sized pieces so you get the perfect ratio in every single forkful
  • It actually tastes better after the flavors hang out together for a while
02 -
  • Cutting everything into similarly sized pieces is what makes this salad work so do not rush the chopping
  • The salad tastes even better after sitting for an hour so feel free to make it ahead
03 -
  • Dry your vegetables really well after chopping so the dressing does not get watered down
  • Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to wake up all the flavors
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