Heart-Healthy Italian Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

Elevate your salad game with this vibrant and nourishing Heart-Healthy Italian Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing—a perfect blend of fresh ingredients and bold Mediterranean flavors. Packed with crisp mixed greens, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and tangy artichoke hearts, this salad is a feast for both the eyes and the palate. The real star is the zesty homemade Italian dressing, crafted with extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and fragrant herbs like oregano and basil. Topped with a touch of shaved Parmesan and Kalamata olives, this wholesome salad is low in sodium, rich in antioxidants, and perfect as a light main course or colorful side dish. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s an ideal recipe for those seeking a heart-healthy yet satisfying meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 8 cups Mixed salad greens (such as romaine, arugula, and spinach)
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 medium Cucumber, sliced
• 1 Red bell pepper, sliced
• 0.5 medium Red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup Artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
• 0.25 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Dried basil
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, artichoke hearts, and Kalamata olives.

Step 2

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 3

Pour the homemade Italian dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl.

Step 4

Toss the salad gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.

Step 5

Sprinkle the shaved Parmesan cheese over the top of the salad.

Step 6

Serve immediately and enjoy as a refreshing meal or side dish. For added heart-health benefits, pair with whole-grain bread.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1351.0g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1368.8

Total Fat 108.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 24.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 60mg	0%
Sodium 4018.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 76.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 29.0g	0%
Total Sugars 16.3g
Protein 39.2g	0%

Vitamin D 12IU	0%
Calcium 1094.8mg	0%
Iron 11.3mg	0%
Potassium 2749.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 67.8%

Protein: 10.9%

Carbs: 21.2%