Description
This Simple Italian Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish that combines fresh Romaine lettuce, zesty peperoncini, savory black olives, and cherry tomatoes with a tangy homemade Italian dressing. Ready in just 15 minutes, it is perfect as a refreshing side or light main dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 2 Romaine hearts, roughly chopped
- ½ medium red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1 cup peperoncini, whole or sliced, drained
- ½ cup black olives, whole or sliced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups croutons, store bought or homemade
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil, sea salt, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified and combined.
- Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, add the roughly chopped Romaine hearts, thinly sliced red onion, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, drained peperoncini, black olives, and cherry tomatoes. Season with freshly cracked black pepper to your taste.
- Toss the salad: Drizzle the prepared Italian dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss everything thoroughly until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Add the finishing touches: Top the salad with the croutons for crunch and additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately for the freshest flavor.
Notes
- The salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness of the Romaine and crunch of the croutons.
- You can substitute black olives with Kalamata olives for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Adjust the amount of peperoncini to control the spiciness and tanginess of the salad.
- Homemade croutons add extra texture and flavor but store-bought ones work perfectly for convenience.
- For a lighter version, reduce the amount of olive oil in the dressing or use a light vinaigrette.
