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Famous La Scala Chopped Salad Recipe

4.8 from 74 reviews

The Famous La Scala Chopped Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and flavorful salad featuring a mix of crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, tangy Kalamata olives, creamy feta cheese, and a zesty homemade red wine vinaigrette dressing. Perfect for a quick and healthy meal, this salad offers a harmonious blend of textures and Mediterranean-inspired flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Salad

  • 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup radishes, sliced
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1/2 cup garbanzo beans, canned, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

For the Dressing

  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, sliced radishes, pitted and halved Kalamata olives, rinsed and drained garbanzo beans, chopped roasted red peppers, crumbled feta cheese, and chopped fresh parsley. Mix gently to combine all the salad components evenly.
  2. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey (or maple syrup), salt, and pepper until fully emulsified and smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed to balance acidity and sweetness.
  3. Toss the Salad: Pour the dressing evenly over the prepared salad ingredients. Toss the salad gently but thoroughly to ensure every bite is coated with the flavorful dressing and all ingredients are well mixed.
  4. Serve: Transfer the dressed salad to serving plates or bowls and serve immediately for the freshest taste. Alternatively, chill the salad in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

  • For extra protein, you can add grilled chicken or shrimp to this salad.
  • The salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.
  • Use fresh herbs like parsley to brighten the flavor.
  • Adjust the dressing sweetness by adding more or less honey/maple syrup according to taste.
  • Rinsing canned garbanzo beans helps reduce sodium content.

Keywords: La Scala Chopped Salad, chopped salad, Mediterranean salad, vegetarian salad, healthy salad recipe, feta cheese salad, easy salad dressing