Description
This Homemade Antipasto Salad is a vibrant and flavorful Italian-inspired dish combining crisp romaine lettuce, savory salami, creamy mozzarella and provolone cheeses, along with a variety of marinated vegetables. Tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and seasoned perfectly, this salad is ideal as a light lunch or an appetizer for gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Greens
- 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
Meat and Cheese
- 4 oz hard salami, cut into ½” cubes
- 4 oz small mozzarella cheese balls
- 4 oz sharp provolone cheese, cut into ½” cubes
Vegetables and Herbs
- ½ cup canned roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- ½ cup canned sliced black olives, drained
- 1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Dressing and Seasoning
- ¼ cup Italian dressing
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables and Ingredients: Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Cube the hard salami and sharp provolone cheese into ½-inch cubes. Halve the cherry tomatoes, and chop the drained roasted red peppers and fresh basil leaves.
- Drain Marinated Items: Drain the marinated artichoke hearts, canned sliced black olives, and mozzarella cheese balls thoroughly to remove excess liquid and ensure the salad doesn’t become soggy.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped romaine lettuce, cubed salami, mozzarella balls, cubed provolone, roasted red peppers, sliced black olives, marinated artichoke hearts, halved cherry tomatoes, and chopped basil.
- Add Dressing and Season: Drizzle the Italian dressing evenly over the salad ingredients. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Toss the Salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing, ensuring balanced flavors throughout the salad.
- Serve: Serve the antipasto salad chilled or at room temperature for the best flavor. Transfer to a serving bowl or individual plates and enjoy immediately for optimal freshness.
Notes
- You can substitute hard salami with pepperoni or capicola for a different flavor.
- Feel free to add other antipasto ingredients like pepperoncini or sun-dried tomatoes.
- Use fresh mozzarella balls or bocconcini for the best texture and taste.
- This salad is best served immediately but can be refrigerated for up to 4 hours before serving.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the Italian dressing and marinated items do not contain gluten.
