ITALIAN CHOPPED SALAD

This is one of my favorite salads. Sometimes this salad is on the menu in a pizza restaurant.  Add whatever you like to make it your own. 

Italian Salad Dressing

1 t freeze-dried or dried basil

1 t freeze-dried or dried oregano

1 clove garlic, grated or minced

1 t sugar, optional 

¼ cup red or white wine vinegar 

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup avocado oil

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad

3 heads Romaine lettuce

1 bunch arugula or spring mix

4 oz Sopressata, Calabrese, Genoa salami

6 pepperoncini, stems removed

½ cup cherry tomatoes

¼ red onion, thinly sliced

¼ cup provolone cheese

¼ cup pitted black Italian or Kalamata olives, cut in half

¼ cup green olives, cut in half

½ cup small mozzarella cheese balls

A few small slices or shaved Parmigiano or Romano cheese

Place the Italian Salad Dressing ingredients in a jar fitted with a lid and shake to combine.

On a large cutting board pile up the lettuces and chop until bite-size pieces.

Transfer to a large salad bowl.

Do the same with the salami, pepperoncini, tomatoes, onion slices, and provolone. 

Chop through them all, until bite-size pieces.

Add the olives, mozzarella balls, and cheese slices or shavings.

Transfer to a large salad bowl, add toss with some of the Italian Salad Dressing.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

You will have more salad dressing for another salad or two.

Serves 4