Crunchy Antipasto Chopped Salad (Printable version)

Vibrant Italian antipasto salad with chickpeas, crisp vegetables, salami, and fresh mozzarella tossed 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 bell 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 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

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

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine drained chickpeas, quartered cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red and yellow bell peppers, finely chopped red onion, sliced pepperoncini, sliced black olives, cubed salami, and mozzarella pearls.
02 - In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture and toss thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Sprinkle chopped fresh basil and parsley over the salad. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped into bite sized pieces so every forkful has all the flavors
  • The chickpeas make it hearty enough to actually satisfy you unlike most salads
  • It tastes even better after sitting for an hour which means perfect party prep
02 -
  • The salad needs at least 15 minutes to let the flavors meld but tastes best within 2 hours
  • Dont skip the Dijon mustard in the dressing because it emulsifies everything perfectly
  • If making ahead, wait to add the fresh herbs until just before serving
03 -
  • Cut your vegetables slightly larger than you think you should because they shrink a bit after marinating
  • Use a glass bowl to marinate if you can, as it doesn't absorb flavors like plastic sometimes can
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