Crunchy Antipasto Chopped Salad (Print version)

Vibrant salad with chickpeas, crisp vegetables, salami, and mozzarella in zesty Italian dressing. Easy, gluten-free, ready in 20 minutes.

# 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 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 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# How To Make It:

01 - In a large mixing 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 development.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Quick and Easy: No cooking required and ready in just 20 minutes.
  • Texture Rich: A delightful mix of crunchy vegetables, creamy mozzarella pearls, and tender legumes.
  • Zesty Flavor: The homemade Italian herb vinaigrette adds a punchy, refreshing finish to every bite.
02 -
  • Uniform Dicing: Try to cut the vegetables, salami, and cheese into similar-sized pieces to ensure a bit of everything in every forkful.
  • Allergen Awareness: Always check ingredient labels on processed items like salami, olives, and cheese for potential gluten, soy, or sulfites.
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