Description
Crisp lettuce meets savory parmesan in this mouthwatering Parmesan Chopped Salad, blending fresh ingredients with zesty dressing. Crunchy and light, this salad brings Italian-inspired flavors that will delight you at first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup radicchio, chopped (or red cabbage)
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
Cheese and Nuts:
- ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (or slivered almonds)
Dressing Ingredients:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant vinaigrette by vigorously whisking olive oil, fresh lemon juice, zesty Dijon mustard, golden honey, minced garlic, sea salt, and cracked black pepper in a compact mixing vessel until the mixture transforms into a harmonious, emulsified elixir.
- Create a verdant foundation by gently layering crisp romaine lettuce and slightly bitter radicchio into a spacious serving vessel, ensuring a textural contrast that awakens the palate.
- Intersperse sweet cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced ruby-red onion, and toasted pine nuts throughout the leafy landscape, distributing ingredients with a delicate touch to maximize visual appeal and flavor complexity.
- Cascade the meticulously prepared dressing over the salad, employing a gentle tossing technique that ensures each leaf and ingredient receives a luxurious coating without bruising the delicate greens.
- Crown the dressed salad with elegant, paper-thin shavings of nutty Parmesan cheese, allowing the delicate curls to rest gracefully atop the colorful medley.
- Present the salad immediately, capturing the peak of freshness and inviting diners to savor the harmonious blend of crisp textures and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Customize the dressing by adjusting the honey level for a tangier or sweeter profile, depending on personal taste preferences.
- Toast pine nuts lightly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and provide a deeper, more complex crunch to the salad.
- Prepare the dressing ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Swap pine nuts with toasted almonds or sunflower seeds for a budget-friendly alternative or to accommodate nut allergies.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg