Description

This Chopped Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing is a colorful and flavorful dish packed with fresh greens, crunchy veggies, blue cheese, and a tangy, homemade lemon basil dressing. Perfect for any occasion, it’s a satisfying and indulgent salad that can be enjoyed as a main or side dish.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

4 cups romaine lettuce, sliced into 1/4” julienned slices

4 cups iceberg lettuce, sliced into 1/4” julienned slices

4 cups baby spinach, chopped

2 cups radicchio, sliced very thin

3/4 medium red onion, sliced very thin and halved

1/4 cup chopped green olives

1 cup crumbled blue cheese or Italian gorgonzola cheese

1 can artichoke hearts, drained, and using just the chunky ends, cut into 1/4” chunks

1 (14 oz.) can hearts of palm, drained and cut into 1/4” chunks

6 oz. fresh mushrooms, chopped

4 hard-boiled eggs, cut into 1/4” chunks

1 1/2 cups crispy, dried fried onion rings, crumbled and used to top the salad

Garnish: Cherry tomatoes, cut in half

Freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt to taste

For the Lemon Basil Dressing:

1 – 2 cups sour cream (start with 1 cup, then add more as needed after mixing other ingredients)

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tbsp champagne vinegar

1/4 – 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese (adjust to taste)

1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup freshly chopped basil

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

(Optional) 1 tsp honey (optional, not used in this version)

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Instructions

Prepare the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, spinach, and radicchio. Add the thinly sliced red onion, chopped green olives, crumbled blue cheese, artichoke heart chunks, hearts of palm, chopped mushrooms, and hard-boiled egg chunks. Toss gently to mix the ingredients evenly.
Make the Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, olive oil, champagne vinegar, blue cheese, lemon juice, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. If the dressing is too thick, add more sour cream to reach your desired consistency.
Assemble the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Add the Finishing Touches: Top the salad with crumbled crispy fried onion rings and garnish with halved cherry tomatoes. Add freshly cracked black pepper and sea salt to taste. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

For added protein, top with grilled chicken, shrimp, or steak.

Feel free to add extra vegetables like cucumbers, bell peppers, or carrots for more crunch and flavor.

Prep Time: 20-30 minutes
Category: Salad, Main Dish, Side Dish
Method: Tossing
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean