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Viral Italian Grinder Salad: Quick Low Carb Chopped Sub Salad

A close-up, tempting view of a fully assembled grinder salad featuring chopped lettuce, salami, red onion, tomatoes, and creamy dressing.
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You get all the bold, savory flavors of a classic Italian grinder sandwich in this fresh, chopped salad. It is a low carb, quick dinner option perfect for weeknight meals or easy meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers (or banana peppers)
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced hard salami
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced capicola
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced ham
  • 4 ounces provolone cheese, thinly sliced or shredded
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • For the Homemade Grinder Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Homemade Grinder Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the Meats and Cheese: If using sliced deli meats and cheese, stack them and slice them into thin strips or chop them into small, bite-sized pieces.
  3. Combine Salad Base: In a large bowl, combine the chopped iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini peppers, and halved cherry tomatoes.
  4. Add Protein and Cheese: Add the salami, capicola, ham, and provolone cheese to the vegetable mixture.
  5. Dress the Salad: Pour about half of the prepared Grinder Dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss everything gently until the ingredients are evenly coated. Add more dressing as needed to reach your preferred level of creaminess.
  6. Finish and Serve: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Serve this quick, healthy salad immediately for the best crunch, or portion it into containers for meal prep.

Notes

  • For meal prep, store the dressing separately and only combine it with the salad ingredients right before you eat to keep the lettuce crisp.
  • You can substitute the deli meats with cooked, chopped chicken breast for a different protein base.
  • If you prefer a tangier dressing, add 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing mixture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumdrizzle.com/grinder-salad-italian-chopped-sub-low-carb/