Description
Classic parmesan chopped salad merges crisp romaine with zesty dressing and savory cheese. Italian-inspired ingredients create a refreshing meal perfect for lunch or dinner companions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup (237 ml) radicchio, chopped (or red cabbage)
- ½ cup (118 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup toasted pine nuts (or slivered almonds)
- ¼ cup (59 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsps lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey (or maple syrup)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Vinaigrette Preparation: Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper in a bowl until smoothly blended and emulsified.
- Salad Base Construction: Layer romaine lettuce and radicchio in a large serving dish, creating a robust green foundation with contrasting textures and depths of color.
- Ingredient Integration: Scatter cherry tomatoes, red onion slices, and toasted pine nuts across the leafy canvas, distributing elements evenly to ensure balanced flavor in every forkful.
- Dressing Incorporation: Drizzle prepared vinaigrette over the salad, gently tossing to coat ingredients thoroughly without crushing delicate greens, allowing each component to glisten with bright, tangy dressing.
- Final Garnish: Delicately shave Parmesan cheese over the salad, letting thin, elegant curls cascade across the colorful mixture, adding a rich, nutty dimension to the fresh composition.
Notes
- Emulsify with Precision: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated vinaigrette that coats each ingredient evenly without separation.
- Balance Greens Carefully: Mix romaine and radicchio in proportions that complement each other’s textures and flavors, preventing one from overpowering the other.
- Toast Pine Nuts Strategically: Lightly toast nuts just until golden to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent burning, which can create a bitter taste.
- Serve Immediately: Dress the salad right before serving to maintain the crispness of the greens and prevent wilting, ensuring maximum freshness and textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 15mg