Fresh Chopped Salad
This salad, or some variation of it, is a staple in our house. A chopped salad is the ideal make ahead dish, whether you are preparing for a dinner party, looking for a dish to take to a pot-luck, or preparing for a relaxing weekend, where all you want to do is reach into the refrigerator and grab something to satisfy your hunger, without any additional fuss! It is a salad which can be a perfect light lunch with some fresh bread and butter, or complete a meal of either grilled or broiled meat; because it is so full of vegetables and proteins, you do not need to serve any additional side dishes.
As with every good recipe, this salad can accommodate what you have on hand and what suites your taste. For example, you may certainly include zucchini, broccoli, and cucumber, as the recipe is written; but if you do not have all of those ingredients available, this salad will still hit the spot with only one or two of those green, crunchy vegetables. Feta cheese will also work well if you cannot find Kasseri.
You may also serve an optional bowl of mixed greens, which can be combined with the chopped salad, for those looking for a more traditional dinner salad.
Ingredients:
1 medium Zucchini finely chopped
½ cup of Broccoli florets finely chopped
1 medium peeled and finely chopped Cucumber
1 large, very ripe Tomato finely chopped
¼ finely diced Red or White Onion
1 tart Apple finely chopped
1 cup canned Chick Peas
15-20 stuffed Green Olives
½ cup of Kasseri Cheese, thinly sliced or diced
8-10 large, fresh Basil or Oregano leaves
Pepper – to taste
Dressing
¼ cup extra virgin Olive Oil
2 T. Balsamic Vinegar
Juice from a fresh Lemon
Salt and Pepper – to taste
Optional
Mixed Salad Greens
Directions:
Finely chop zucchini, broccoli, cucumber, and tomato and place in a large bowl. Core and chop apple, sprinkle lemon juice on apple, to prevent browning, and place with chopped vegetables. Add onions, chick peas, olives and cheese. Tear basil or oregano leaves, over salad, and add pepper.
In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt till blended; and then drizzle dressing over ingredients in large bowl, and let sit for twenty to thirty minutes. With a large spatula, mix the salad after about ten minutes to make sure all ingredients are nicely coated.
