Antipasto Romaine Salad
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Discover how delicious a salad can be with this Antipasto Romaine Salad recipe. It’s filled with vibrant ingredients that complement each other perfectly. Tossed with a simple homemade dressing, it’s a flavorful and filling salad that’s easy to customize with your favorite ingredients.
Salads have become my go-to for dinner, especially when I’m craving something loaded with fresh vegetables. But let’s face it, salads can get boring pretty quickly. That’s where this Antipasto Romaine Salad comes in—it’s anything but ordinary. With a delicious blend of flavorful ingredients that complement each other perfectly, this recipe is one you’ll find yourself making again and again.
It’s versatile enough to enjoy solo or share with a group of friends. What makes this salad even better is its flexibility. Once you have the basics, you can easily adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Use your favorite antipasto components to create the perfect version for you.
This dish is simple, unique, and incredibly delicious—classic ingredients brought together in a fresh and flavorful way. I know you’re going to love it!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s packed with flavor: This salad combines a variety of bold ingredients, from the tangy sun-dried tomatoes to the savory hard salami. Each bite is a delicious mix of textures and tastes that makes eating your greens anything but boring.
- Easily customizable: One of the best things about this salad is how flexible it is. You can swap in your favorite antipasto ingredients or add extras like marinated artichokes or roasted red peppers. It’s a wonderful way to use what you have on hand and still enjoy a dish that feels special.
- Great for any occasion: Whether making a quick weeknight dinner for yourself or serving it at a gathering of friends, this salad fits the bill. It’s substantial enough to be a main course, but it can pair perfectly with other dishes for a more elaborate spread.
- Simple yet satisfying: While it’s easy to prepare, the combination of fresh romaine, radicchio, and flavorful toppings makes it taste like so much more. You’ll love how a few high-quality ingredients come together to create a dish that feels elegant without the fuss.
Looking for more delicious salad recipes? You’ve got it! Check out this collection of my best salad recipes for your enjoyment!
Ingredients
It’s time to gather all the ingredients you’ll need to make this Antipasto Romaine Salad including the homemade dressing. Here’s everything you’ll need:
Salad:
- Romaine Lettuce: Crisp and refreshing, it forms the foundation, adding texture and crunch.
- Radicchio: Its slightly bitter taste balances the other rich ingredients and adds a pop of color.
- Cooked Chicken Breast: Provides a hearty, protein-rich addition that makes the salad substantial enough for a meal. I just bake mine in the oven drizzled with a little olive oil and sprinkled with kosher salt and pepper.
- Hard salami: Adds a savory, salty flavor that pairs well with the other antipasto ingredients.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: These oil-packed gems bring a burst of intense, tangy-sweet flavor.
- Halved Assorted Olives: Lend a hint of briny saltiness that ties the ingredients together.
- Avocado: Offers creamy richness and a touch of healthy fat if you choose to include it.
- Crumbled Goat Cheese: Creamy and tangy, it provides the perfect finishing touch to the salad. If you don’t like goat cheese, you can substitute feta or even blue cheese.
Dressing:
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: This rich, flavorful oil forms the base of the dressing, bringing a touch of Mediterranean flair to the salad.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds a hint of sweetness and tang to the dressing, perfectly complementing the other bold flavors.
- Orange Juice: A splash of citrus that brightens the dressing and enhances the overall freshness of the salad.
- Garlic: Minced garlic infuses the dressing with a subtle, savory depth.
- Italian Seasoning: A mix of herbs such as oregano, basil, and thyme, it adds a classic Italian flavor to the dressing.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the other flavors, bringing the whole salad together.
- Black pepper: Adds a touch of warmth and subtle spice that balances the acidity in the dressing.
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How To Make
Okay! Ready to put everything together? Let’s do it! I’ll take you through the steps below. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.
- Place the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for one hour.
- In a large bowl or platter, combine the romaine and radicchio. Top with chicken, salami, tomatoes, olives, avocado, and goat cheese.
- Shake dressing to reincorporate; pour over salad and toss to coat.
And that’s it. This Antipasto Romaine Salad is a perfect example of how simple ingredients can be transformed into something truly delicious.
I know you’ll love how effortlessly this dish comes together. Have fun making it your own. I’ve shared a few ingredient and recipe variations below.
Recipe Variations
If you’d like to put your unique spin on this Antipasto Romaine Salad, there are plenty of ways to customize it with other delicious antipasto-inspired ingredients. Here are some ideas to help you create a version that suits your tastes perfectly.
- Marinated Artichoke Hearts: Add a tangy, briny flavor that pairs perfectly with the other classic antipasto elements. You can chop them up and toss them in for a unique twist.
- Roasted Red Peppers: Sweet and smoky, these can add a vibrant color and a subtle hint of charred flavor to the salad.
- Prosciutto: For a different kind of cured meat, swap the salami for thinly sliced prosciutto, which adds a delicate, salty flavor.
- Fresh Mozzarella or Burrata: Substitute the goat cheese for a softer, milder cheese like mozzarella or creamy burrata to create a more traditional Italian taste.
- Pepperoncini or Banana Peppers: If you like a little heat, sliced pepperoncini or banana peppers will add a spicy, tangy kick.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Fresh, halved cherry tomatoes bring a burst of juiciness and balance the richness of the meats and cheeses.
- Crisp Chickpeas: For some added crunch and protein, roasted chickpeas can replace the nuts or serve as an extra topping.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp, pungent flavor that complements the other bold ingredients in the salad.
More Salad Recipes You’ll Love
- Broccolini Salad
- Chicken Apple Pecan Salad
- Winter Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Butternut Squash Fall Salad
- Radiatori Salad
- Roasted Carrot Salad
I hope this recipe inspires you to get creative with your salads and experiment with different antipasto favorites. Don’t be afraid to mix things up – that’s part of the fun! And remember, if you give this salad a try, I’d love to hear what you think or see how you’ve made it your own. Please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below.
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Antipasto Romaine Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Ground black pepper to taste
Salad:
- 6 cups (7 oz.) thinly sliced romaine
- 1 small head radicchio thinly sliced
- 1½ cup cubed cooked chicken
- 1 cup cubed hard salami
- 1 jar (7 oz.) julienned oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained and patted dry
- 1 can (2¼ oz.) halved mixed olives drained and halved
- ¼ cup cubed avocado
- ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese
Instructions
- Place the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for one hour.
- In a large bowl or platter, combine the romaine and radicchio. Top with chicken, salami, tomatoes, olives, avocado, and goat cheese.
- Shake dressing to reincorporate; pour over salad and toss to coat.