benzie
Culinary Explorer
Hey everyone! Just thought I’d share my go-to recipe for a Big Italian Salad. It’s super fresh, easy to throw together, and always a hit at dinners or potlucks. I’d love to hear if you make it or tweak it with your own favorite ingredients!
Ingredients:
- For the salad:
- 6 cups of mixed greens (I like a combo of romaine, arugula, and radicchio)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced (optional, but adds a nice bite!)
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
- 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded or shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup croutons (homemade if you’re feeling fancy)
- For the dressing:
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Prep the salad:
Toss the greens, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and pepperoncini in a large bowl. - Make the dressing:
In a small jar or bowl, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake or whisk until well blended. - Assemble the salad:
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat. Top with Parmesan and croutons right before serving to keep everything nice and crisp.