La Scala Style Chopped Salad

Crafting Your Own La Scala Chopped Salad: A Step-by-Step Guide

Recreating the iconic La Scala Chopped Salad at home is a straightforward and rewarding process. With just a few simple steps, you can bring the flavors of this legendary Beverly Hills dish directly to your kitchen. The key lies in the quality of your ingredients and a proper emulsified dressing.

1. Prepare the Exquisite Dressing: Begin by combining the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small mixing bowl. Vigorously whisk these ingredients together until they are fully emulsified. Emulsification is the process where the oil and vinegar, normally separate, blend completely to form a creamy, opaque, and cohesive dressing without any distinct layers. Alternatively, for ease, you can combine all dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously until well combined.
2. Refine the Seasoning: Once your dressing is emulsified, taste it and adjust the seasoning as necessary. Remember that both the Parmesan cheese and the Genoa salami, which will be added to the salad, contribute significant saltiness. Therefore, it’s wise to under-season the dressing slightly at this stage and make final adjustments later. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it is evenly distributed, adding a rich, nutty depth to the vinaigrette.
3. Thoughtfully Assemble the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, gently combine the finely chopped romaine lettuce, crisp iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced Genoa salami strips, shredded mozzarella cheese, and the thoroughly rinsed and drained garbanzo beans (chickpeas). Give them a light toss to ensure an even distribution of ingredients before the dressing is added. The goal is to have all components ready for their flavor transformation.
4. Dress and Serve Immediately: Pour the freshly prepared Parmesan red wine vinaigrette over the assembled salad mixture. Using tongs or salad servers, toss everything thoroughly until every leaf and ingredient is glistening and coated with the dressing. The vibrant dressing adheres beautifully to the chopped components, ensuring a burst of flavor in every bite. For the best texture and taste experience, serve your homemade La Scala Chopped Salad immediately while the lettuce is at its peak crispness.

Elevate Your Salad: Creative Variations for La Scala Chopped Salad

While the classic La Scala Chopped Salad is perfect as is, its robust foundation makes it wonderfully adaptable to various additions and dietary preferences. Experiment with these variations to customize your salad and explore new flavor dimensions, ensuring it always feels fresh and exciting.

• Boost the Protein Power: If you’re looking to transform this hearty side into an even more substantial main course, consider adding extra protein. Sliced rotisserie chicken offers a convenient and flavorful option, or you can opt for freshly grilled chicken breast or thighs for a smoky char. Cooked shrimp or crumbled feta cheese also make excellent additions, enhancing the salad’s satiating qualities and adding diverse textures.
• Incorporate Wholesome Grains: For those who appreciate a more complex texture and an extra layer of nutritional value, integrating cooked grains can be a fantastic idea. Hearty grains like farro lend a delightful chewy texture and an earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with the Italian components. Alternatively, a small pasta shape such as orzo or ditalini, cooked al dente and cooled, would also work exceptionally well, adding a comforting touch to the salad.
• “Veg It Up” with Freshness: The La Scala salad serves as a superb canvas for a variety of fresh vegetables. Creamy avocado cubes introduce a rich, buttery counterpoint, while zesty pepperoncini rings offer a tangy, slightly spicy kick. Halved cherry or grape tomatoes add bursts of sweetness, and thinly sliced cucumber provides a refreshing crunch. Don’t forget the aromatic depth of thinly sliced red onion, the smoky sweetness of roasted red peppers, or the concentrated flavor of sun-dried tomatoes. Each addition brings its own unique character to the ensemble.
• Add Irresistible Crunch: For those who crave an extra layer of texture, introducing crunchy elements can significantly elevate the salad experience. Lightly toasted pine nuts offer a delicate, buttery crunch and a subtle nutty flavor. Alternatively, homemade croutons, baked until golden and crispy, provide a satisfying bite and can be seasoned to complement the dressing. Even toasted walnuts or slivered almonds can offer a delightful textural contrast.

Perfect Pairings: Inspiring Serving Ideas for La Scala Chopped Salad

The La Scala Chopped Salad is incredibly versatile, making it an ideal companion for a wide range of main courses. Its vibrant flavors and satisfying components ensure it stands out, whether served as a hearty side or as part of a larger, more elaborate meal. Here are some inspired suggestions to help you create memorable dining experiences:

• With Chicken: The fresh, tangy notes of the La Scala salad beautifully cut through the richness of various chicken dishes. Consider pairing it with succulent grilled chicken thighs or breasts, which offer a smoky contrast. For an even more Italian-inspired meal, serve it alongside this flavorful bruschetta chicken recipe, where the fresh tomatoes and basil will echo the salad’s bright profile. Alternatively, a Greek-style marinated chicken, with its zesty herbs and lemon, would also create a fantastic culinary synergy.
• Alongside Steak: The robust flavors of grilled steak find a perfect complement in the crisp, tangy La Scala salad. Imagine serving it with tender garlic butter steak bites, where the richness of the beef is balanced by the salad’s fresh zest. A grilled marinated flank steak also pairs wonderfully, offering a substantial meal that feels both gourmet and wholesome. If you’re hosting guests, steak kabobs alongside this vibrant salad make for an impressive and easy-to-serve spread.
• Complementing Pasta Dishes: When your pasta dish is the main event, the La Scala Chopped Salad provides a refreshing and textured counterpoint. Given the protein from the salami and chickpeas already present in the salad, a meatless pasta option works perfectly. Consider a delicate fettuccine tossed with a creamy yet light cauliflower Alfredo sauce. The salad adds a burst of fresh flavors and a satisfying crunch that elevates the entire meal without overwhelming it.
• With Other Italian-Inspired Favorites: This salad truly shines when paired with other beloved Italian and Italian-American recipes. It’s the ultimate “pizza salad”—that refreshing, crunchy side you instinctively reach for when enjoying takeout or frozen pizza, providing a much-needed balance to the cheesy indulgence. Beyond traditional pizza, it also pairs exceptionally well with pizza-inspired creations like a savory pizza stuffed spaghetti squash or a quick and delightful pizza quesadilla. The salad’s bright acidity and fresh ingredients cut through the richness, making every bite incredibly satisfying.

Smart Storage Solutions for Your La Scala Salad

Proper storage is key to enjoying your La Scala Chopped Salad over multiple days. The crucial factor to consider is whether the salad has been dressed. For optimal freshness and to prevent the lettuce from becoming soggy, it’s always best to store the salad components and the dressing separately until just before serving.

If you know you won’t be serving the entire batch of salad at once, assemble only the portion you plan to eat immediately. Store the remaining undressed salad ingredients (chopped lettuce, salami, mozzarella, chickpeas) in separate, airtight containers in the refrigerator. When stored correctly, the undressed salad mixture can remain fresh for up to 3 days, depending significantly on the initial freshness of your lettuce. The Parmesan red wine vinaigrette, stored separately in a sealed jar, will maintain its quality for up to a week in the refrigerator. Remember to give it a good shake or whisk before use, especially if the olive oil has solidified.

Once the salad has been dressed, it truly is at its best when eaten immediately. The vinaigrette, particularly its acidic components, begins to break down the cell walls of the lettuce, causing it to soften and lose its crisp texture relatively quickly. However, if you do find yourself with leftovers of the dressed salad, it can still be safely refrigerated for up to 2 days. While the lettuce will inevitably soften, it remains perfectly edible and delicious. To revive some of that original crispness, a clever trick is to toss any leftover dressed salad with a small amount of freshly chopped, undressed lettuce just before serving. This infuses new life and crunch into your second-day salad, making it almost as enjoyable as the first.

Recipe

La Scala Chopped Salad (Copycat)

By
Rachel Gurk

Prep Time:
20 mins

Total Time:
20 mins

Servings:
8

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Even salad skeptics will fall hard for this copycat La Scala chopped salad recipe! With crisp lettuce, salami, mozzarella, and chickpeas in a Parmesan red wine vinaigrette, La Scala salad is satisfying, easy to make, and packed with flavor.

Ingredients

For the Dressing:

• 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper (or to taste)
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

For the Salad:

• 1 small head romaine lettuce, cut into thin short strips (approx. 4 cups)
• ½ head iceberg lettuce, cut into thin short strips (approx. 4 cups)
• 4 ounces Genoa salami, cut into thin short strips
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (coarsely shredded cheese works better than finely shredded)
• 1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (chickpeas)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, kosher salt, and coarse ground black pepper until the mixture is fully emulsified and appears creamy. Taste the dressing and adjust seasonings as needed, keeping in mind that the Parmesan cheese and salami will also add saltiness to the final salad. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until well combined.
2. Assemble the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced Genoa salami, shredded mozzarella cheese, and the rinsed and drained garbanzo beans. Toss gently to ensure all ingredients are evenly distributed.
3. Dress and Serve: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the large bowl. Toss everything thoroughly until all the lettuce and components are evenly coated with the vinaigrette. Serve your delicious La Scala Chopped Salad immediately for the best flavor and texture experience.

Notes

• Lettuce Selection: While romaine provides a good crunch, the crisp texture of iceberg lettuce truly shines in this chopped salad, much like its role in a wedge salad or 7 layer salad. Ensure both types of lettuce are thoroughly rinsed and dried, ideally using a salad spinner, to prevent a watery dressing.
• Salami Options: Genoa salami imparts a rich, savory flavor and excellent texture to this salad. If you prefer a drier and chewier texture with a more smoky taste, hard salami can be used as a suitable alternative.
• Red Wine Vinegar: For the dressing, red wine vinegar is highly recommended as it delivers a bright, robust flavor that is neither overly tart nor excessively acidic. It is a staple in classic dressings like this red wine vinaigrette. If red wine vinegar is unavailable, white wine vinegar can be used in a pinch, though the flavor profile will be slightly different.
• Parmesan Cheese: For the freshest taste, grate your own Parmesan from a block. However, if convenience is a priority, pre-grated Parmesan cheese (such as Kraft brand) works perfectly well. Since the cheese is incorporated directly into the dressing, finely grated cheese blends much more smoothly than coarser shredded Parmesan.
• Make-Ahead Suggestions: To streamline meal prep, wash, dry, and chop the lettuce a day or two in advance, storing it in a resealable bag in the refrigerator. The dressing can also be prepared up to a week ahead of time; simply refrigerate it and remember to remove it about 30 minutes before serving to allow the olive oil to liquefy, then shake well. Slicing the salami and rinsing the chickpeas can also be done in advance, making assembly a breeze.
• Optional Add-ins for Customization: Feel free to personalize your La Scala salad with additions like grilled or rotisserie chicken for extra protein, diced avocado for creaminess, chopped pepperoncini for a zesty kick, halved cherry tomatoes for sweetness, thinly sliced cucumber or red onion for crunch, roasted red-pepper strips for smoky flavor, cooked farro or orzo for a heartier meal, or toasted pine nuts for a delicate nutty texture.

Recipe Video Guide

Nutrition Information

• Serving Size: 1.5 cups
• Calories: 273 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 12g
• Protein: 11g
• Fat: 21g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
• Monounsaturated Fat: 11g
• Cholesterol: 25mg
• Sodium: 787mg
• Potassium: 395mg
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 2g
• Vitamin A: 7118 IU
• Vitamin C: 4mg
• Calcium: 155mg
• Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.

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