Quick Portillos Chopped Salad Recipe for Refreshing Bites
When summer heat demands a refreshing salad with portillo’s chopped salad recipe, nothing beats this crisp, colorful dish packed with vibrant ingredients.
Tender chicken mingles with crisp greens and crunchy bacon bits in perfect harmony.
The dressing whispers a tangy secret that makes every bite irresistible.
Fresh ingredients dance together, creating a symphony of flavors that will make your taste buds sing.
Red onions add a sharp note of excitement while sweet pasta spirals bring unexpected texture.
Bacon crumbles provide a salty crunch that elevates this classic salad from ordinary to extraordinary.
Each forkful promises a delightful culinary adventure you won’t want to miss.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 220 kcal
Servings: 7
What You’ll Need For Strawberry Truffles
For Pasta Base:
Ditalini Pasta: Tiny tube-shaped pasta that provides hearty texture and catches dressing perfectly, choose a high-quality brand for best results.
For Fresh Produce:
Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce: Crisp greens offering satisfying crunch and refreshing base for the salad.
Red Cabbage: Adds vibrant color and subtle peppery flavor, select firm and deeply colored cabbage.
Grape Tomatoes: Sweet little bursts of freshness, pick ripe and plump tomatoes for maximum flavor.
Green Onions: Delivers mild onion kick and beautiful green color, choose bright green stalks with firm white bottoms.
For Protein and Cheese:
Bacon: Smoky, crispy element that adds rich depth to the salad, opt for thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor.
Gorgonzola Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy, tangy cheeses that provide luxurious richness and complex taste profile.
For Dressing:
White Balsamic Vinegar: Light, sweet acidic base that brightens the entire dish.
Olive Oil: Smooth binding agent that helps distribute flavors evenly.
Sugar: Balances acidity and enhances overall dressing taste.
Dijon Mustard: Adds subtle heat and helps emulsify dressing.
Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that elevate and round out flavor combinations.
Tools For Making Strawberry Truffles
Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious vessel for combining all salad ingredients smoothly.
Small Bowl or Jar: Perfect for whisking and mixing dressing ingredients quickly.
Whisk: Essential tool for blending dressing components into a smooth consistency.
Colander: Handy for draining and rinsing pasta after cooking.
Cutting Board: Solid surface for chopping vegetables and preparing ingredients.
Chef's Knife: Sharp blade for precise vegetable and ingredient preparation.
Measuring Spoons: Accurate tools for measuring dressing ingredients precisely.
How To Make Strawberry Truffles
Pasta Symphony Soft ditalini noodles dance in boiling water, transforming into tender morsels of deliciousness. Drain and let cool, creating the perfect foundation for this culinary masterpiece.
Dressing Magic Whisk together a flavor explosion of tangy vinegar, silky olive oil, sweet sugar, zesty Dijon, and a whisper of salt and pepper. This liquid gold will make taste buds sing.
Ingredient Harmony Gather a vibrant mix of crisp romaine, crunchy iceberg, purple cabbage, and colorful tomatoes. Sprinkle in smoky bacon bits, sharp Gorgonzola, creamy mozzarella, and bright green onions.
Salad Symphony Gently toss all ingredients, allowing the dressing to coat each morsel with its magical blend of flavors. Watch as colors and textures intertwine into a delectable masterpiece.
Celebration Time Serve immediately and relish the explosion of flavors dancing across your palate. This isn't just a salad – it's a celebration of freshness and taste.
Tips For Better Strawberry Truffles
Pasta Perfection Tricks: Rinse pasta with cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping, ensuring a crisp texture in your chopped salad.
Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare salad components separately and store in airtight containers, mixing just before serving to maintain freshness and prevent soggy greens.
Diet-Friendly Swaps: Replace regular bacon with turkey bacon for lower fat content, or use plant-based bacon alternatives for vegetarian guests. Swap Gorgonzola with dairy-free cheese for vegan options.
Protein Power-Up: Add grilled chicken, shredded rotisserie chicken, or diced steak to transform this side salad into a hearty main course that satisfies hungry appetites.
Seasonal Spin: Experiment with seasonal vegetables like roasted butternut squash in fall or fresh corn kernels in summer to keep the salad exciting and adaptable throughout the year.
Serving Strawberry Truffles With Fun
Cheese Lover's Paradise: Sprinkle extra crumbled Gorgonzola and mozzarella on top for a delightful cheese explosion that elevates the salad's richness.
Protein Power Boost: Add grilled chicken, sliced steak, or shrimp to transform this side dish into a hearty, satisfying main course perfect for lunch or dinner.
Crunch Corner: Toss in some toasted pine nuts or crispy croutons just before serving to introduce an exciting textural contrast that keeps every bite interesting.
Fresh Herb Finish: Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley right before serving to add a bright, aromatic touch that freshens up the entire salad experience.
Storage Help For Strawberry Truffles
Fridge-Fresh Strategy: Store the chopped salad in an airtight container, keeping dressing separate to maintain crisp ingredients. Consume within 2-3 days for optimal taste and texture.
Dressing Durability: Refrigerate homemade dressing in a sealed jar up to one week. Shake well before each use to restore emulsification and flavor intensity.
Bacon Brilliance: Keep cooked bacon crispy by storing separately from salad components. Add just before serving to prevent soggy texture and maintain crunchiness.
Prep-Ahead Pro: Chop vegetables and cook pasta in advance, storing individually in sealed containers. This smart method saves time and keeps ingredients fresh for quick assembly during busy weekdays.
Classic Portillo’s chopped salad combines crisp greens, tender chicken, and bacon in a creamy dressing. Midwestern comfort meets fresh ingredients for a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
1 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (or blue cheese)
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup cooked ditalini pasta, cooled
4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
2 cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
1 cup red cabbage, finely shredded
½ cup green onions, sliced
¼ cup white balsamic vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Pasta Preparation: Boil salted water and cook ditalini pasta until achieving a perfect al dente consistency with a slight bite, then rapidly cool by rinsing under cold water to prevent further cooking.
Vinaigrette Creation: Whisk white balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a container until seamlessly blended, creating a smooth, unified dressing.
Salad Foundation: Layer romaine and iceberg lettuce in a large bowl, then strategically distribute red cabbage for a vibrant color and satisfying crunch.
Ingredient Assembly: Integrate cooled ditalini pasta throughout the leafy base, then artfully distribute bacon pieces, halved grape tomatoes, and sliced green onions across the salad’s surface.
Cheese Infusion: Generously crumble Gorgonzola and sprinkle mozzarella cheese, ensuring an even coverage that promises rich, tangy undertones.
Final Touch: Elegantly drizzle the prepared vinaigrette over the salad, using tongs to gently toss and thoroughly coat each ingredient, guaranteeing a harmonious flavor profile.
Serving Suggestion: Plate immediately to preserve the salad’s optimal texture and pristine freshness, presenting a dynamic culinary composition.
Notes
Pasta Precision: Cook ditalini exactly al dente to prevent mushiness, ensuring a perfect bite and texture in the salad.
Chill Technique: Cool pasta completely before mixing to prevent wilting lettuce and maintain crisp vegetable integrity.
Dressing Balance: Whisk vinaigrette thoroughly to create smooth emulsion, preventing oil separation and ensuring consistent flavor in every bite.
Cheese Consideration: Crumble Gorgonzola and mozzarella just before serving to preserve their distinct textures and prevent clumping.
Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting; Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks; Global Flavor Exploration; Engaging Food Writing and Honest Reviews.
Education
Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York, NY
Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Hands-on training in foundational techniques, flavor development, recipe creation, and kitchen efficiency, with an emphasis on real-world application and storytelling through food.
Marcus Foley, based in Atlanta, GA, is a friendly food expert who makes cooking fun and simple.
With hands-on training from the Institute of Culinary Education and years of tasting everything from street food to fine dining, he shares easy kitchen hacks, global flavor ideas, and step-by-step recipes that turn kitchen mishaps into delicious surprises.
Marcus Foley
Food Critic & Kitchen Coach
Expertise
Recipe Testing and Troubleshooting; Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks; Global Flavor Exploration; Engaging Food Writing and Honest Reviews.
Education
Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York, NY
Marcus Foley, based in Atlanta, GA, is a friendly food expert who makes cooking fun and simple.
With hands-on training from the Institute of Culinary Education and years of tasting everything from street food to fine dining, he shares easy kitchen hacks, global flavor ideas, and step-by-step recipes that turn kitchen mishaps into delicious surprises.