Big Summertime Italian Salad

A big Italian salad makes a great no cook summertime dinner! Throw this together in about five minutes and enjoy.

I love to throw together big salads for dinner, especially in the summer time when I just don’t want to turn on the stove at all or if I’m pressed for time to get dinner on the table. I just keep adding ingredients to this salad every time I make it, because it’s just so easy. It is full of Italian flavors and is light, but also filling. I like to serve it with some good Italian bread and olive oil.

Start with whatever greens you like. I used a mixture of hearts of romaine and a spring mix. Then just start adding all the things that sound good to you. I used celery, cucumbers, carrots, black olives, artichokes, diced red peppers, grape tomatoes, red onions, pepperoni that I cut into strips, banana peppers, and shredded parmesan. You could also add fresh parsley, basil or mint for some extra fresh flavor.

If you want more protein, you can add some chick peas or even shredded chicken. You can just pick up a rotisserie chicken so that there’s still no cooking involved. Croutons are always a good addition as well as any kind of seeds or nuts. Pine nuts or hazelnuts are in keeping with the Italian theme, but any seeds or nuts would be great and add even more crunch. Don’t forget to season your salad with salt and pepper!

Not only does this salad look beautiful, but it’s just so flavorful. It’s also a perfect dish to take to a picnic or potluck. I added a balsamic vinaigrette dressing, but you can use any dressing that you prefer. Add this to your summer dinner rotation. Get as creative as you want with putting together your perfect salad.