Crunchy Antipasto Chopped Salad (Printable format)

Vibrant Italian-inspired chopped salad with chickpeas, vegetables, salami and mozzarella in tangy dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables & Legumes

01 - 1 (15 oz) can 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 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large bowl, combine chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red and yellow bell pepper, red onion, pepperoncini, black olives, salami, and mozzarella.
02 - In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle with chopped basil and parsley.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped into bite sized pieces so every forkful has the perfect balance of flavors
  • The chickpeas make it substantial enough to be a meal while keeping it light and fresh
02 -
  • This salad actually tastes better after sitting for 30 minutes so the flavors have time to mingle
  • Do not add the fresh herbs until right before serving or they will wilt and lose their vibrant flavor
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables slightly smaller than you think you should because they shrink in the dressing
  • Taste a piece of mozzarella before adding salt to the dressing since the cheese is already quite salty
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