Ingredients:

  • 60 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • 45 ml balsamic vinegar
  • 5 ml Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 2 g dried oregano
  • 1 g sea salt
  • 1 g freshly cracked black pepper
  • 300 g Romaine lettuce, chopped into 1-inch ribbons
  • 115 g Genoa salami, sliced into thin strips
  • 115 g pepperoni or sopressata, sliced
  • 150 g fresh mozzarella pearls
  • 170 g marinated artichoke hearts, drained and halved
  • 100 g roasted red peppers, sliced into strips
  • 75 g cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 50 g Kalamata olives, pitted
  • 30 g red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

  1. Combine 60 ml extra virgin olive oil, 45 ml balsamic vinegar, 5 ml Dijon mustard, 1 minced garlic clove, 2 g dried oregano, 1 g sea salt, and 1 g black pepper in a jar. Shake vigorously until the liquid looks opaque and thickened.
  2. Chop 300 g Romaine lettuce into 1 inch ribbons. Wash them in cold water and dry them until they feel bone dry to the touch.
  3. Take 115 g Genoa salami and 115 g pepperoni and slice them into thin strips or quarters.
  4. Empty the 170 g of artichoke hearts and 100 g of roasted red peppers into a colander. Let them sit for 2 minutes until the excess brine has stopped dripping.
  5. Thinly slice 30 g of red onion. If you find raw onions too sharp, soak the slices in a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes until the pungent aroma softens.
  6. Cut 75 g of cherry tomatoes in half and pit the 50 g of Kalamata olives if they aren't already. Keeping the tomatoes halved allows their juice to mingle slightly with the dressing.
  7. In your large bowl, toss the salami, pepperoni, mozzarella pearls, artichokes, peppers, olives, and onions. Do this before adding the lettuce until the ingredients are evenly distributed.
  8. Add the Romaine to the bowl and pour the dressing over the top. Use tongs to lift and turn the salad until every leaf has a slight shimmer from the oil.
  9. Let the salad sit for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. This allows the 150 g of mozzarella pearls to absorb a bit of the balsamic tang.