Italian Grinder Salad

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 0

Total Time: 10

Servings: people

Calories: 542kcal

Author: Platings and Pairings

Italian sub fans will adore this Grinder Salad. Inspired by the viral TikTok recipe, it’s a loaded chopped salad made with deli meats, cheeses, lettuce, fresh veggies, and pepperoncini peppers. A creamy vinaigrette ties it all together!

Print Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients

Dressing

1/3 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 clove garlic grated or minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Salad

8 cups lettuce chopped, rinsed & dried
4 ounces salami diced or sliced into matchsticks
¼ pound ham or turkey (rolled and chopped)
4 ounces Provolone cheese cubed, about 1 cup
4 ounces mini mozzarella balls drained & cut in half, about 1 cup
½ medium red onion peeled & thinly sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
¼ cup pepperoncini peppers sliced

Instructions

Dressing

Place 1/3 cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon dijon mustard, 1 clove garlic, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon honey, Salt and pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake vigorously until all ingredients are combined and the dressing is emulsified. Alternatively, you can add the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to combine.

Salad

To make the salad, place 8 cups lettuce, 4 ounces salami, ¼ pound ham, 4 ounces Provolone cheese, 4 ounces mini mozzarella balls, ½ medium red onion, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, and ¼ cup pepperoncini peppers in a large salad bowl. Drizzle with the dressing and toss to combine.

Notes

Tips and tricks

Dry your chopped and washed lettuce really well, either in a salad spinner or by patting the leaves dry with paper towels. Wet lettuce is the fastest way to a soggy salad!
Pop the chopped lettuce in the fridge for 10 to 15 minutes before assembling. Cold lettuce stays crisp longer and makes the salad extra refreshing.
When assembling, only drizzle half of the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat, then add more as needed. Remember: you can always add more dressing, but you can’t take it away!
Let the assembled salad sit for 5 minutes before serving. This gives the flavors time to get even better while keeping everything crisp.

Variations

Add more spice: If you love a little heat, mix crushed red pepper flakes or red pepper relish into the dressing.
Add more veggies: Add sliced black olives, green or red bell peppers, cucumbers, chopped artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes.
Add more crunch: Try topping the salad with croutons, crispy bacon crumbles, strips of crispy prosciutto, or toasted pasta chips for an extra layer of crunch.
Change the cheeses: Feel free to mix and match the provolone and mozzarella with sharp cheddar, crumbled feta, and/or shaved parmesan.
Try different meats: Try swapping the ham and/or salami for turkey, roast beef, prosciutto, or pepperoni.

Nutrition