Vegan Italian Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing

Bright, fresh, and bursting with Mediterranean-inspired flavors, this Vegan Italian Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing is the ultimate plant-based side or main dish. Packed with crisp romaine, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, and vibrant red bell peppers, it's a rainbow of wholesome goodness in every bite. Tender artichoke hearts, briny black olives, and protein-rich garbanzo beans add texture and heartiness, while a handful of fresh basil leaves brings a fragrant Italian touch. The real star? A zesty, homemade dressing made from olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, minced garlic, and oregano, perfectly balancing tangy and herbaceous notes. Ready in just 20 minutes and completely vegan, this salad is ideal for everything from casual lunches to elegant dinner parties. Serve it as is or pair it with crusty bread for a complete, satisfying meal.

Nutriscore Rating: 75/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 cups Romaine lettuce
• 1 cup Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 0.5 medium Red onion
• 1 medium Red bell pepper
• 0.5 cup Black olives
• 1 cup Artichoke hearts
• 1 cup Garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked
• 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves
• 0.5 cup Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 large Garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper, ground

Directions

Step 1

1. Wash and dry all the vegetables thoroughly.

Step 2

2. Tear or chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and place them in a large salad bowl.

Step 3

3. Halve the cherry tomatoes and add them to the bowl.

Step 4

4. Peel, halve, and slice the cucumber into thin half-moons and add to the salad.

Step 5

5. Thinly slice the red onion and red bell pepper, then add them both to the bowl.

Step 6

6. Slice the black olives and add them along with the drained artichoke hearts.

Step 7

7. Rinse and drain the garbanzo beans, then add them to the salad for extra protein.

Step 8

8. Tear the fresh basil leaves and scatter them over the salad.

Step 9

9. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper to make the homemade Italian dressing.

Step 10

10. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.

Step 11

11. Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh basil leaves if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1581.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1764.4

Total Fat 128.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 19.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 11.3g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1989.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 130.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 38.4g	0%
Total Sugars 35.8g
Protein 34.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 420.4mg	0%
Iron 17.2mg	0%
Potassium 2918.1mg	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: 63.6%

Protein: 7.5%

Carbs: 28.9%