June 9, 2014

Italian Chopped Salad

dani@slyrooster.com Salads cheese, ham, Italian sub, salad, salami, turkey, vinaigrette 3 Comments

The season of backyard parties has kicked into full swing and I have been lamenting over the disappearance of the six-foot Italian sub. If you grew up in the New York metropolitan area, you know exactly what I’m talking about. This mega-sandwich served up on a long, narrow wooden board and delivered wrapped in colored cellophane, was ubiquitous at every summer birthday party, graduation event and family gathering. There would be salami, ham, turkey, provolone, pepperoncini, lettuce, tomato and onion layered between two red wine vinaigrette soaked, six-foot long slices of crusty Italian bread. The sub was sliced crosswise about every two-inches and held together with toothpicks. This was party food at it’s best, hand-held, fairly nutritious, crowd-pleasing and served at room temperature after being delivered by the local Italian deli.

With the Italian sub holding a special place of honor in my memories, it will come as no surprise that I just couldn’t wait to try the recipe posted last week on Smitten Kitchen. Nancy’s Chopped Salad is an Italian sub in a bowl (minus the bread which miraculously you won’t miss). It has all the sandwich goodies chopped and tossed with a tangy, garlicky, oregano-laced vinaigrette. Each bite, a forkful of yumminess. I served it at an end-of-the season lacrosse party this past weekend and was left with a couple of chickpeas drowning at the bottom of my great big wooden bowl.

But before I share the recipe, I have a confession to make…I almost didn’t write this post. You should read that as an indication of just how much I love this salad and how I want to bring it to every pot luck this summer as “my own.” Selfish, I know. Not very “Sly Rooster-ish.” So, run–don’t walk–to the grocery store and pick up these ingredients today. Make this salad and let me know what your family and friends think. I guarantee that they will love it as much as mine. Oh, and if you’re so inclined, you can refer to it as “Dani’s Chopped Salad.” Enjoy!