Everyday Italian Tossed Salad

By sschwartz

Classic everyday Italian salad is perfect with just about any dinner, not just Italian food! The homemade vinaigrette is delicious -- you'll never buy Italian dressing again! Use on sandwiches, as well as salads.

Ingredients

• SALAD:
• 8 cups torn or roughly chopped romaine lettuce (or a standard 10-oz bag of lettuce greens)
• 1/2 cup quartered artichoke hearts (half of 14 oz. can), drained
• 1/4 cup diced pimentos or roasted red peppers, drained
• 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Everyday Vinaigrette (recipe below)
• EVERYDAY VINAIGRETTE:
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar (substitute white wine vinegar, if preferred)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup pine nuts, optional
• 1/4 cup black olives, optional

Preparation

Step 1

Make the salad:
Toss ingredients together and serve. If you'd like add some toasted pine nuts or black olives.

Make the vinaigrette:

Add vinegar, salt, pepper and garlic powder to bowl or 2-cup measure cup; whisk together. Continue whisking rapidly while adding olive and canola oils in a thin stream.

Use 1/4 cup dressing for 8 cups torn or chopped greens, or a standard 10 oz. bag of greens. Taste and add more dressing, if desired.