Description
Experience a burst of fresh, vibrant flavors with the La Scala Chopped Salad. This colorful and well-balanced dish features crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber, sweet red bell pepper, sharp red onion, savory smoked turkey bacon, creamy shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal), and fragrant fresh basil. Tossed in a simple olive oil and apple cider vinegar dressing, this quick and customizable salad is perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a refreshing side.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 cups crisp romaine lettuce, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Protein
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
Cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal)
Dressing
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Wash all the vegetables thoroughly. Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, finely slice the red bell pepper, and thinly slice the red onion.
- Cook the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the smoked turkey bacon until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, and the crispy smoked turkey bacon pieces. Toss gently to mix all flavors evenly.
- Add Cheese and Herbs: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal) over the salad, then add the torn fresh basil leaves for aroma and flavor.
- Dress the Salad: Drizzle olive oil and apple cider vinegar over the salad. Season with salt and pepper as desired, and toss gently to coat all ingredients with the dressing.
Notes
- Prep veggies the night before and store separately to save time.
- Pat vegetables dry after washing to avoid a soggy salad.
- Use fresh basil for the best aromatic flavor.
- Cook smoked turkey bacon until crispy for optimal texture contrast.
- Add dressing just before serving to keep the salad crisp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Stove top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Keywords: chopped salad, smoked turkey bacon salad, fresh vegetable salad, easy salad recipe, gluten free salad, light dinner, healthy lunch