This Italian salad with homemade Italian dressing is quick and simple to prepare and bursting with authentic Italian flavor. It combines crisp and tender textures with a pleasing balance of creamy and tangy notes from ingredients such as:
- Pepperoni
- Mozzarella cheese
- Sweet red peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Red onions
Why You’ll Love This Italian Salad
Here are three reasons this Italian salad will become a favorite:
1) Make-ahead convenience
This salad benefits from chilling for at least four hours, making it ideal for preparing in advance for parties, potlucks, or busy weeknights. Make it the morning of your event or the night before, then add the dressing and croutons just before serving.
2) Versatility
Serve this salad as a satisfying lunch entrée or as a bright, flavorful side for dinner. It pairs well with hearty Italian dishes or simply with crusty bread.
3) Fresh homemade dressing
Store-bought dressings are convenient, but a homemade Italian dressing is both easy to make and more flavorful. You control the ingredients and can adjust seasonings to taste.
The Benefits of Making Your Own Dressing
Making your own Italian dressing offers several advantages:
Economical. Homemade dressing costs less than many bottled options and reduces packaging waste. You can make just enough for a meal or prepare a larger batch to keep in the refrigerator.
Healthier. When you make dressing at home you avoid unwanted additives, extra sugars, and preservatives often found in commercial products.
Customizable. You can easily tailor the dressing to your taste and experiment with different vinegars and seasonings. This recipe uses seasoned rice vinegar for a milder, slightly sweet balance instead of the more common balsamic or red wine vinegar.
Seasoned rice vinegar—a blend of rice vinegar with a little sugar and salt—is milder than plain white vinegar and adds a gentle sweetness that complements salads without overpowering them.
How to Make the Salad
Start by quartering the cherry tomatoes and pepperoni.
In a large bowl combine the lettuce, quartered cherry tomatoes, quartered pepperoni, sliced red onion, sliced sweet red pepper, and shredded mozzarella. Toss gently to mix, cover, and refrigerate for at least four hours to allow the flavors to meld.
How to Make Homemade Italian Dressing
Combine the olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, chopped fresh parsley, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Seal the jar and shake vigorously until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the dressing over the chilled salad and toss to coat evenly.
Finish the salad by sprinkling Italian-seasoned croutons over the top and serve immediately for best texture.
Buon appetito!
Recipe
Italian Salad Recipe with Homemade Italian Dressing
Serves: 6 | Prep: 5 mins | Total: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 8 ounces package lettuce
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 6 ounces sliced pepperoni, cut into quarters
- ½ sweet red pepper, sliced
- ½ red onion, sliced
- 4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 5.5 ounces Italian seasoned croutons
Instructions
- Add the lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, red pepper, red onion, and mozzarella to a large bowl. Toss to combine, cover, and chill for four or more hours so the flavors meld.
- Before serving, combine the olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, chopped parsley, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight lid. Shake well to combine and pour over the salad. Toss to coat evenly.
- Top with Italian-seasoned croutons and serve immediately.
- Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition (per serving, estimate)
- Calories: 487 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Fat: 37 g
- Sodium: 1101 mg
Nutrition details are estimates, per serving.