How to Create the Ultimate Italian Salad Platter
Lay out all of your favorite salad fixings on a platter instead of mixed in a bowl, and give everyone the chance to make their own favorite salad version.
Ingredients
- 6 cups salad greens
- Marinated chickpeas
- Roasted or marinated artichokes , quartered
- Stuffed green olives
- Black olives
- Sliced salami or prosciutto
- Marinated mushrooms
- Roasted red bell peppers , sliced
- Sliced cucumbers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Parmesan crisps
- For the Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- 1 8- ounce carton of mozzarella cheese balls (bocconcini), drained
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- Peel from ½ lemon , cut into long strips
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- For the Salad Dressing
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- On a large platter, place the lettuce greens in the center of the plate. Arrange the rest of the ingredients in groups on the outsides of the platter. Let your guests create their own salads and serve with the salad dressing on the side.
- To Make the Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- Place the mozzarella balls in a jar or bowl. Pour the olive oil over the mozzarella. Stir in the lemon strips, red pepper flakes and salt. Marinate for 1 hour up to 1 week.
- To Make the Salad Dressing
- In a small jar with a lid, add the olive oil, golden balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, sugar, tarragon, pepper and salt. Cover the jar tightly with the lid and shake until the dressing is mixed thoroughly.