Crunchy Antipasto Chopped Salad (Printable Version)

Vibrant Italian-style salad with chickpeas, vegetables, salami, and mozzarella in zesty dressing.

# What You'll 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 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 tbsp red wine vinegar
13 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp salt
17 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# Method:

01 - In a large 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.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped into tiny bites so every forkful contains the perfect ratio of ingredients
  • It actually tastes better after sitting for an hour, making it the ultimate make ahead dish
  • The chickpeas make it substantial enough to be a meal while keeping it light and fresh
02 -
  • Chopping everything into small, similar sized pieces is the secret to why this works so well
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes for flavors to meld but tastes even better after a few hours
  • Waiting to add the fresh herbs until serving prevents them from wilting in the acidic dressing
03 -
  • Cut the salami into cubes while its cold for cleaner edges
  • Pat your mozzarella pearls dry with paper towels so they dont make the salad watery
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