Say hello to your newest obsession — Italian Chop Salad with Peperoncini Vinaigrette!
If you follow me on Instagram, you already know I love making a quick Italian Chop for lunch. To make it even more exciting, I made a Peperoncini Vinaigrette to add even more flavor than the usual balsamic-oil combination.
And let’s talk peppers. You all already know I love peperoncinis, but there’s a new-to-me pepper I am loving — sweet + tangy pepper drops! Similar to peppadews, they bring add a craveable bold flavor to any dish. And don’t worry if you can’t find these in your grocery store, I have an alternative in the recipe note for you.
I can’t wait to see you all make your desk lunches more exciting with this Italian Chop Salad with Peperoncini Vinaigrette!
Italian Chop Salad with Peperoncini Vinaigrette
Ingredients
For the Crispy Chickpeas:
- One [15-ounce] can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Pepperoncini Vinaigrette:
- 6 mild peperoncini peppers cored and minced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 3 tablespoons peperoncini brine
- 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Salad:
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce or 1 large head
- 4 cups baby arugula
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup drained sweet n’ tangy pepper drops see note
- ½ cup sliced peperoncini drained
- ½ cup halved and thinly sliced red onion
- 6 ounces sliced genoa salami cut into ½-inch dice
- 3 ounces sliced provolone cheese cut into ½-inch dice (optional, omit for dairy-free)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the Chickpeas:
- Pat the chickpeas very dry and spread on the prepared baking. Drizzle with the olive oil, italian seasoning, salt and pepper and toss until evenly coated. Transfer to the oven and bake until the chickpeas are golden brown and crisp, about 25 minutes, tossing halfway through.
Make the Pepperoncini Vinaigrette:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the minced pepperoncini, the pepperoncini brine, white wine vinegar, olive oil, parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the romaine, arugula, cherry tomatoes, pepper drops, red onion, salami, and provolone cheese.
- When the chickpeas are crisp, remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss until well coated in the dressing and evenly combined. Divide the salad amongst four plates then, divide the crunchy chickpeas over the top of each salad.
Notes
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
23 Comments
Katrina
March 22, 2023 at 10:30 pmAnyone know the macros of the salad?
Michelle
May 5, 2023 at 4:45 pmWondering the same thing……..
Julie
February 8, 2023 at 9:01 pmI loved this salad! The variety of flavors makes it interesting but it’s also very easy to make. I couldn’t find the sweet pepper drops but I did see they sell them on their website – next time!
Ali
February 7, 2023 at 7:31 pmThis salad is AMAZING!! My go to for an easy lunch or dinner, so flavorful! Thank you Alex for another delicious recipe!
Lisa M
January 30, 2023 at 6:33 pmThis salad is everything I want in a salad – so EASY, excellent dressing, different textures and totally addictive! Don’t sleep on those seasoned chickpea croutons either!
Alex
January 30, 2023 at 8:52 pmOne of my favorites as well! Thanks for commenting
Kelsey
January 7, 2023 at 7:00 amWhat cookbook is this recipe found on?
Alex
January 9, 2023 at 7:15 pmThis is just on the blog, not in either cookbook!
Natalie
November 14, 2022 at 3:20 pmI made this salad for my MIL and it changed her life. She hasn’t stopped talking about it, and now she’s growing sweety peppers in her garden. One of the best salads I’ve ever had.
Alex
November 14, 2022 at 9:45 pmIncredible! So glad it was a hit
Liz Frerich
September 13, 2022 at 10:19 pmThis looks so yummy!! Where did you find those peppers in Dallas? Central market?
Alex
September 14, 2022 at 5:03 pmI’ve found these at Whole Foods and Tom Thumb in the deli bar section or jarred aisle! You can also find them on Amazon.
Ali
August 30, 2022 at 4:50 pmThis salad is incredible! So easy to make for lunches and so tasty!
Agata
August 24, 2022 at 4:50 pmMade this last night and my boyfriend and I couldn’t get enough! The dressing is delicious— super creative flavor combo. The whole salad tastes like all the best parts of an Italian sub. Perfection!
Alex
August 27, 2022 at 11:30 pmSo glad you enjoyed it!!
Jaime
August 23, 2022 at 1:12 pmThis has been made 3 times already since posted. Amazing!! Do you have nutrition info for this recipe?
Susan
August 7, 2022 at 1:06 amThis salad was absolutely delicious and the dressing was perfection. Thank you for always inspiring me to cook.
Alex
August 7, 2022 at 2:54 pmAw yay! Thanks Susan! Glad you enjoyed it!
Alex
September 16, 2022 at 3:02 pmIt’s my pleasure! Glad you enjoyed it
Mallory
August 3, 2022 at 3:59 pmThis was a great recipe! My husband and I ate this salad for lunches this week. We LOVED the dressing and plan to make it for other salads – great flavor and easy to put together. I couldn’t find the pepper drops in my grocery store and had some roasted red peppers in the fridge, but honestly liked the salad better without them.
The only negative was the chickpeas – we ate some right out of the oven when they were crispy and they were amazing, but by the time we ate them with our salads the next day, they were soggy. Still, was a great meal overall!
Rosemary
August 2, 2022 at 8:39 pmMy love for chopped salads is pretty fierce & when it’s an Italian version that’s even better! I made this for dinner last week & absolutely loved it!! Sure, there’s some chopping involved but nothing daunting. I loved it so much I went ahead and chopped everything up & stored it in Tupperware for lunches this week. Such a perfect meal for dinner or for prepping to have on hand for lunches!
Alex
September 16, 2022 at 3:02 pmYay! glad you loved it!
Jessie Montes
August 2, 2022 at 6:42 pmThis looks insane! I can’t wait to make it. 😍