Italian Chopped Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 4 cups Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup Cucumber, diced
• 1/2 cup Red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella cheese, diced
• 2 tbsp Pepperoncini (banana peppers), chopped
• 2 oz Salami, thinly sliced or chopped(optional)
• 3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 clove Garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Honey
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1/8 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Chop the romaine, halve the tomatoes, dice the cucumber and bell pepper, and dice the mozzarella.

2. 2

   If using salami, slice or chop it into bite-size pieces; chop the pepperoncini.

3. 3

   Make the vinaigrette: whisk balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Dijon, minced garlic, honey, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.

4. 4

   In a large bowl, combine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, mozzarella, pepperoncini, and (if using) salami. Toss with the vinaigrette until evenly coated.

5. 5

   Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then serve immediately.