Linda's Italian Salad with Spicy Italian Dressing

Experience a burst of bold Mediterranean flavors with Linda's Italian Salad with Spicy Italian Dressing—a fresh, vibrant dish that's as versatile as it is delicious. This quick and easy recipe combines crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, sharp red onion, black olives, and zesty pepperoncini peppers, all topped with shredded Parmesan and crunchy croutons for the perfect texture. The star of the show is the homemade spicy Italian dressing, crafted with extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, and a kick of red pepper flakes for a fiery finish. Ready in just 20 minutes, this salad is ideal as a flavorful side dish or a light yet satisfying meal. Perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining, this Italian-inspired recipe is a must-try for anyone craving bold, refreshing tastes.

Nutriscore Rating: 78/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 hearts Romaine lettuce
• 1.5 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 1 small Red onion
• 0.5 cup Black olives
• 0.25 cup Pepperoncini peppers
• 0.5 cup Shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup Croutons
• 0.5 cup Extra-virgin olive oil
• 0.25 cup Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Honey

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce hearts, then chop them into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a large salad bowl.

Step 2

Halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the cucumber into thin rounds. Thinly slice the red onion and add all to the bowl.

Step 3

Add the black olives, pepperoncini peppers, shredded Parmesan cheese, and croutons to the salad bowl.

Step 4

To make the spicy Italian dressing, combine the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and honey in a small bowl or jar with a lid.

Step 5

Whisk or shake the dressing ingredients until emulsified and well blended.

Step 6

Drizzle the spicy Italian dressing over the salad and toss together gently to evenly coat all ingredients.

Step 7

Serve immediately as a side dish or as a light meal option.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2342.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1876.2

Total Fat 149.9g	0%
Saturated Fat 28.6g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.5g
Cholesterol 42.8mg	0%
Sodium 4090.3mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 110.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 28.1g	0%
Total Sugars 36.2g
Protein 44.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1139.1mg	0%
Iron 19.2mg	0%
Potassium 3883.1mg	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: 68.6%

Protein: 9.0%

Carbs: 22.4%